sphenographist 
5824- 
Sphenozamites 
maxary ssure, ossa, suure, ec. ee e nouns, gpnus Spicnojitiris. 
Sphenomonadidae (sfe"no-mo-nad'i-de), n. pi. Sphenopteris (sfe-nop'te-ris), . [NL. (Bron- 
C NL -> < SpJtenomonas (-motia(t-) + -idse.] A gll i a rt, 1822), < Gr. a^v, a wedge, + 7m W (irT-t- 
family of dimastigate eustomatoug mfusonans, pi-), a fern: see /'few.] A genus of fossil ferns 
represented by the genus ^>he>iom,,Ha. These very widely distributed and very abundant, es- 
" 
sphenographist (sfe-nog'ra-fist), H. [< p/ie- noid and superior maxillary bones Spheno- sphenopterid (sfe-nop'te-rid), . A fern of the 
nograpn-ij + -int.] Same as sphe)iograp)tcr. maxillary fissure, fossa, suture, etc. See the nouns, gpnus Sphenopteris. 
sphenography (sfe-nog'ra-fi), . [< Gr. 
and description of 'cuneiform writings. [Rare.] ' a Uv of dimasUgate eustomatous infusorians, prf-), afern/seel'^r/s.]' Agenusof fossiTferns. 
Sphenoid (sfe'noid), . and . [< Gr. o<ta/voei6fa ; 
wedge-shaped, < c^r/v, a wedge, + tirlof, form.] 
I. a. Wedge-shaped; wedge-like; specifically, 
in anat., noting certain cranial bones. See 
II. , 2. Minimum sphenoid diameter, the least trans- 
verse diameter of the skull, measured between the tem- 
poral fossjc. 
II. n. 1. In crystal., a wedge-shaped crystal- 
line form contained under four equal isosceles 
triangles. It is the hemihedral form of the 
square pyramid of the tetragonal system. 2. 
In anat., a large and important compound bone 
of the skull: so 
called from its 
shape and con- 
nections in man. 
The cranial articu- 
lations are with the 
occipital, temporal, 
parietal, frontal,and 
ethmoid; the facial, 
short, both vibratile and extended anteriorly ; the oral 
aperture is succeeded by a distinct tubular pharynx ; the 
endoplasm is colorless, granular; an endoplast and con- 
tractile vesicle are conspicuous. 
Sphenomonas (sfe-nom'o-nas), n. [NL., < Gr. 
o<t>qv, a wedge, + fiovaf, solitary, a unit: see 
monad.] The representative genus of Spheno- 
monadidst. These animalcules arc of persistent poly- 
hedral prismatic figure, with four or more longitudinal 
carinsa, and two vibratile flagella, a long and a short one. 
Two fresh- water species are S. quadranyularis and S. octo- 
costatus. 
sphenonchus (sfe-nong'kus), . ; pi. sphenonchi 
(-ki). [NL., < Gr. a^, a wedge, + oysof, bulk, 
mass.] In ichth. : (a) One of the hooked dermal 
spines of the cephalic armature of certain fossil 
pecially in the (Carboniferous) coal-measures, 
but ranging from the Devonian to the Middle 
Cretaceous. "These are elegant ferns, very numer 
ous in species, and most difficult to discriminate" (Dan-- 
son). Almost nothing is known of the fructification 
of Sphenopteris, and the numerous specific distinctions 
which have been made are generally derived from the 
subdivisions of the fronds, and the shape and venation of 
the pinnules. Lesquereux divides the sphenopterids into 
three subdivisions : (a) the pecopterid sphenopterids, spe- 
cies of which group were referred to Pecopteris by Bron- 
gniart, of which the fronds have their ultimate pinna; pin- 
nately deeply lobed, the lobes connate to the middle or 
higher, and the veins pinnately divided, as in Pecopteris; 
(b) Sphenopteris proper, of which the pinna' are more deep- 
ly divided in lobes, or pinnately narrowed and decurrent 
at the base, and generally dentate or crenate at the apex ; 
(c) the hymenophyllite sphenopterids, which he thinks 
should constitute a distinct genus. See cut under fern. 
n Sphenoid Bone, from above. 
a.o.alisphenoid, or greater wing, the lowe 
letter a pointing to its continuation i 
, he 
with the vomer, 
malar, palate, and 
sometimes the su- 
perior maxillary. It 
has a solid median 
and inferior body, 
and bears on each 
side two pairs of 
wings, greater and 
lesser, separated by 
the sphenoidal fis- 
sure from each oth- 
er. It is a collec- 
tion of bones, not a 
single bone, its com- 
position including, 
in man and the mammals generally, (a) a basisphenofd, 
the principal posterior part of the body of the bone, bear- , ,, ^-^ - 
ing (6) the alisphenoids, the pair of greater wings, these P alati " e f Meckel s ganglion. Sphenopalatine vein, 
elements forming with the parietal bones the second or a Bma " Tein entering the pterygoid plexus, 
parietal segment of the minium: (c) the presphenqid, Sphenoparietal (sfe'no-pa-ri'e-tal), a. [< sphe- 
no(id) + parietal.] Pertaining to the sphenoid 
fishes, as of the genera Hybodus and Acrodus. sphenopterygoid(sfe-nop-ter'i-goid),a. [(sphc- 
(&t) [cap.] A lapsed genus of fishes, founded no(id) + pterygoid.] Common to the sphenoid 
on sphenonchi by Agassiz in 1843. and pterygoid bones. Also pteryqosnhcnoid. 
spheno-orbital, spheno-orbitar ' " 
external pterygoid process; bs, basisphe- 
noid, or main body of the bone.^r pointing to 
the sphenoccipital articulation ; /<-, post- 
clinoid processes, bounding the pituitary 
fossa or sella Turcica behind ; fs, presphe- 
noul.or fore part of the body of the Done ; u, 
orbitosphenoid, or lesser wing; /, internal 
pterygoid process ; i, optic foramen ; a, 
sphenoidal fissure, or foramen lacerum an- 
terius; 3, foramen rotundum; 4, foramen 
ovale ; 5, groove for internal carotid artery, 
or cavernous groove. 
_, 10-orbitar (sfe-no-6r'bi- sphenorbital (sfe-nor'bi-tal), a. [<sphen(oid) 
tal, -tar), a. Same as spheitorbital. + orbital.] Pertaining to the sphenoid bone 
sphenopalatine (sfe-no-pal'a-tin), a. [< sphe- and the orbits of the eyes; orbitosphenoid. The 
no(id) + palatine'*.] Pertaining to the sphenoid sphenorbital parts of the sphenoid are the lesser wings, or 
and palatine bones. Also si>henopalatal, sphe- orbitosphenoids; the sphenorbital fissure is the sphenoi- 
nnn Inilvni* i dal fissure, or anterior lacerate foramen. See orbUosphe- 
iwpalatinate.-tatenial sphenopalatine nerve, noid. Also spheno-nrbital and sphem-orbitar 
Same as nasopalattne nerve (which see, under nasopala- Hn1inM>1ivnfciu tato /i i-i.i<'u-i,a rvi 
tint).- Sphenopalatine artery, a branch arising him B te-no-ring kus), . L^L., 
the third or sphenomaxillary portion of the internal max- P r P- 9S!f Or ^f lu * u * (Hempnch and Ehren- 
ax- 
illary artery. It passes through the sphenopalatine fora- berg, 1829), < Gr. 
a wedge, + f>v}Xf, a 
the lesser anterior moiety of the body of the bone, bearing 
(d) the orbitosphenoids, the pair of lesser wings, or pro- 
cesses of Ingrassias, these forming with the frontal bones 
the third or frontal cranial segment ; (e) a pair of ptery- 
goid bones, the so-called internal pterygoid processes ; (/) 
a pair of spongy bones, the sphenoturbinals. The devel- 
opment of the human sphenoid is from 14 centers of ossi- 
fication, 8 in the postsphenoid division, and 6 In the pre- 
sphenoid division. Below mammals, in Sauropsida (bir 
and reptiles), the 
of the pterygoids, which then form" permanently d 
bones, and complicated by the addition of other elements, 
especially an underlying membrane-bone called the para- 
sphenoid. In Ichthyopsida (amphibians and fishes) further 
and very great modifications occur. To the sphenoid of 
man are attached twelve pairs of muscles. 
, 
men into the cavity of the nose, and is distributed to the snout.] 1. A genus of Ciconiidx, the wedge- 
i and the membranes of the an- billed gtork8| having a sharp straight bill with 
a membrane saddled on the base of the upper 
mandible, and no ambiens muscle. The only spe- 
cies is the white-bellied stork or simbil, 5. abdimi, also 
called Abilimia gphenorhyncha, of greenish and brownish- 
purple color and white below, the bill tipped with orange- 
red. It inhabits Africa, nests In trees, and is regarded 
with veneration by the natives. See cut under simM. 
trum, ethmoid, and sphenoid cells. Also called nasal 
artery. Sphenopalatine foramen, ganglion, notch. 
See the nouns. Sphenopalatine nerves, two small 
branches of the superior maxillary nerve to the spheno- 
and parietal bones : as, the Sphenoparietal su- 
ture Sphenoparietal sinus, a small vessel which 
communicates with the cavernous sinus and middle me- . ~ ~~ , _ 
ningeal veins, and rests In a groove on the under side of the Spaenosquamosal (sfe* no-skwa-mo'sal), a. [< 
lesser wing of the sphenoid. Breschrl. Sphenoparie- sphenolid) + squamosal.] Oforpertaininetothe 
tal suture. See suture. ' -^ 
2f. A genus of South American dendrocolaptine 
birds, now called Glyphorhytichvs. Maximilian, 
1831. 3f. A genus of reptiles. Tschudi, 1838. 
ls7on.'-BlfowmTmmal7;inYaTr^a(brrds Sphenopetrosal (sfe'no-pet-ro'sal), a. [< sphe- J^SSS!?- Tana foSSl 1 "* 1 * "^ ^^ 
i, the sphenoid is simplified by subtraction no(iil) + netrosal~\ Of ornertaininitothesrVhp v squamosphenoidal. 
coids, which then form permanently distinct "";" Tf iJL. P Sphenotemporal (sfe-no-tem'po-ral), a. [< 
noid and petrosal 
bones ; petrosphe- 
noidal . _ Sphenopetro- 
sal suture. See suture. 
sphenopharyngeus 
sphenoidal (sfe-noi'dal), a. [< sphenoid + -al.] (sfe"nd-far-in-je'us), 
Same as sphenoid sphenoidal angle. See crani- 
ometry. Sphenoidal crest, the median thin ridge pro- 
jecting from the anterior surface of the sphenoid bone to 
articulate with the perpendicular plate of the ethmoid. 
Also called ethtturidal crest. Sphenoidal fissure. See 
Assure. Sphenoidal fontanelle, the membranous in- 
terspace in the infant skull at the junction of the squamous 
suture with the coronal suture. It often contains a Wor- 
mian bone Sphenoidal hemihedrism. See hemi- _ 
hedrism. Sphenoidal process. See process.- Sphe- Sphenophorus 
noidal rostrum, (a) The beak, or a beak-like part, of nof'6-rus), n. 
. [< spheno(id) + 
pliaryngeus.] An 
occasional elevator 
muscle of the phar- 
ynx which arises from 
the spine of the sphe- 
noid. 
(sfe- 
[NL. 
6 
Sfhenophortu sculptitis. 
a, adult beetle, dorsal view; 6, 
adult beetle, side view in outline 
(hair-line shows natural size) ; f, 
pattern of elytra! sculpture, still 
more enlarged. 
. 
sphcno(id) + temporal 2 .] In anat.', of" or belong- 
ing to the temporal and sphenoid bones. Also 
temporosphenoid Sphenotemporal suture. See 
future. 
sphenotic (sfe-no'tik), a. and . [< splien(oid) 
+ otic.] I. . Of or pertaining to the sphenoid 
bone and the otic capsule, or hard parts of the 
auditory organ: as, a sphenotic ossification in 
various fishes. See cut under teleost. 
II. n. Inorni</i.,apostfrontalprocessof bone, 
or a separate ossification, developed in relation 
with sphenoidal and otic elements, entering into 
the posterior boundary of the orbital cavity. 
sphenotresia (sfe-no-tre'si-a), n. [NL., < Gr. 
M. Sphenoidal spongy hones, the sphenoturbinals. 
sphenoides (sfe-noi'dez), n. [NL., < Gr. ai/a/voei- 
3, wedge-shaped : see sphenoid.] 1. In anat., 
the sphenoid bone : more fully called os sphe- 
noides. 2. [ciip.] A genus of coalenterates. 
sphenoideum (sfe-noi'de-um),n.; p\.sphenoidea 
(-a). [NL. : see sphenoid.] The sphenoid bone, 
or os sphenoideum. 
sphenoido-auricular(sfe-noi"do-a-rik'u-lar),a. 
In craniom., noting the ratio of the minimum 
very wide 
tion, having the an- 
distribu- m ent used in performing sphenotresia. 
laving the an- sphenoturbinal (sfe-nd-ter f bi-nal), a. and n. [< 
erior COXBB narrowly sphenodd) + turbinal] I. a. gpbenoidal and 
separated, and 
body beneath 
brous. Nearly 200 . 
cles are known, of which 
30 inhabit America north 
of Mexico. Many of them 
breed In the roots of 
Sptunephorus pulchelltts. 
a, adult beetle, dorsal view ; *. 
adult beetle, side view in outline. 
(Hair-line shows natural size.) 
pul 
our 
sphenoidal diameter of the skull to the mini- 
mum auricular diameter: as, the spltenoido- 
auricular index. 
sphenoidofrontal (sfe-noi'do-fron'tal), a. In 
craniom., noting the' ratio of the "minimum Sphenophyllum (8fe-n6-fir ; um)7">r 
sphenoidal diameter of the skull to the mini- 
mum frontal diameter. 
sphenoidoparietal (sfe-noi"d6-pa-ri'e-tal), a. 
In craniom., noting the ratio of the minimum 
sphenoidal diameter of the skull to the maxi- 
mum parietal diameter. 
tne turbinated or whorled or scroll-like ; spheno- 
turbinate : specifically applied, conformably 
""^ with ethmoturbinal and maxilloturbinal, to the 
sphenoidal spongv bones. See II. 
. II. . One of the sphenoidal spongy bones ; 
one of a pair of small bones situated in front of 
pesta' TOe'aduH bUeS the b<>dy f the 8 P henoid > in m n at birth solid, 
also often feed upon no " u lar, distinct from each other and from the 
plants. Thus 5. tmlptati sphenoid, afterward fused with the body of the 
feeds upon corn, and S. sphenoid as delicate spongy or scroll-like bones 
pWieuuponthecockle- which take part in t fiL the gphenoidal si- 
nuses. Their homologues ia other animals are 
questionable. 
[NL. 
sphenomalar (sfe-no-ma'lar), a. [< spheno(id) i" herbaceous plant, with whorlsof wedge-shaped leaves, 
+ malar.] Of or pertaining to the sphenoid fP ri - n .??_ n f J. ro , m _ e P. lar ed ..^ticulations, the fructification 
and malar bones : as, the sphenomalar articula- 
tion, between the alisphenoid and malar bones. 
Sphenomalar suture. See suture. 
sphenomaxillary (sfe-no-mak'si-la-ri), a. [< 
spheno(id) + mnxilhiri/.] Relating'to the sphe- 
the Lower Silurian, near Cincinnati in Ohio It 8 P nenoi(J Done and the vomer : as, the spheno- 
romerine suture or schindylesis. 
Sphenozamites (sfe'no-za-mi'tez), . [NL. 
(Brongniart, 1849), < Gr. otyfjv, a wedge, + NL. 
Zamites, q. v.] A genus of fossil plants be- 
longing to the cycads, ranging from the Per- 
mian to the Jurassic inclusive. They are said 
in cylindrical spikes, with bracts curved upward in a 
sharp flexure from near the base, and globular sporanges 
in the axils of the bracts. Sphenophyllum, tlrst thought 
by Brongniart to belong to the gymnosperms, is now be- 
lieved to constitute a peculiar type of vegetation, regarded 
by some authors as related to the rhizocarps, by others as 
connected with the Calamarite through Asterophyttitet. 
by Schimper to bear some resemblance to the prob- 
lematical Noeggerathia, and, among living forms, to be 
