THE SKULL 289 



iii. The internal orbital foramen perforates the 

 inner wall of the orbit, about a quarter of an 

 inch in front of the optic foramen, and at the 

 anterior end of a groove which curves back 

 over the optic foramen towards the sphenoidal 

 fissure. Through it the nasal branch of the 

 ophthalmic division of the fifth nerve passes 

 from the orbit into the cranial cavity, which 

 it enters just behind the lower edge of the 

 cribriform plate. 



iv. The infra-orbital foramen is on the side of the 

 face, in front of the zygomatic process of the 

 maxilla : it transmits the infra-orbital branch 

 of the maxillary division of the fifth nerve 

 from the orbit to the face. 



V. The anterior palatine foramen or foramen in- 

 cisivum is a large slit-like aperture, extending 

 from the bony bridge of the palate almost to the 

 incisor teeth, and imperfectly separated from 

 its fellow by the palatal processes of the pre- 

 maxillas. Through it pass the naso-palatine 

 branch of the maxillary division of the fifth 

 nerve, and the naso-palatine canal. 



vi. The posterior palatine foramen is a small 

 hole in the bony palate, at the junction of its 

 maxillary and palatine portions : it transmits 

 the anterior palatine branch of the maxillary 

 division of the fifth nerve, and the blood- 

 vessels of the palate. 



vii. The foramen laeerum medium is an irregular 

 aperture on the under surface of the skull, 

 between the ali-sphenoid and the periotic, just 

 in front of the tympanic bulla. Its anterior 

 part, which represents the separate foramen 

 ovale of other mammals, transmits the man- 

 dibular division of the fifth nerve. 

 viii. The stylomastoid foramen is a small aperture 

 about the middle of the posterior border of 



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