188 
ANATOMY OF THE HORSE. 
the wings of the sphenoid; laterally, are embraced by the bifid 
orbital plates of the frontal bone, and, in fine, received into the 
mortise of the same. Upon their internal surfaces the alae sup¬ 
port the anterior lobes of the cerebrum : their opposite surfaces 
constitute within the orbits the ossa plana. 
Connection. With the sphenoid and frontal, the vomer and 
superior turbinated bones; and with the cartilaginous septum 
of the nose. 
II.—THE FACE. 
The face constitutes the antero-superior, anterior, and inferior 
parts of the head, making altogether (including the inferior 
maxilla) about four-fifths of the whole : it is the part to which the 
head owes its prolongation anteriorly, and principally its lateral 
breadth. It is bounded, behind, by the cranium ; at the sides, 
by the zygomatic and orbital arches ; infero-posteriorly, by the 
ethmoid and sphenoid bones, and the basilar process of the oc¬ 
cipital. It is composed of two perfectly distinct and separable 
parts ; viz. the superior maxilla or syncranium ; and the inferior 
maxilla or diacranium : the latter consists of a single or indivi¬ 
sible piece, called the lower jaw; the former or upper jaw is con¬ 
stituted of seventeen pieces, but which are closely and immove- 
ably united; viz. the nasal bones, the superior and anterior 
maxillary, the malar, the lachrymal, the palatine, the superior 
and inferior turbinated, and the vomer: the teeth are equally 
distributed between the jaws. First, of the superior maxilla. 
NASAL BONES. (oSSA NASI.) 
Situation. Superior part of the face; where they constitute 
the roof of the cavity of the nose. 
Figure —Vaulted, thin, elongated ; mostly convex externally, 
concave internally; broad posteriorly, tapering arid terminating 
• in a sharp point anteriorly : the single bone represents the sec¬ 
tion'(about one-third) of a hollow cone, split longitudinally; the 
two bones together form the outline of a heart as painted on 
cards. 
Division —Into two surfaces, two borders, a base and an apex. 
Surfaces. The External is not merely smooth ; it is polish¬ 
ed. It is not everywhere uniformly convex: indeed, the sides 
are towards their middle slightly concave ; and the outward side 
is most depressed.— The Internal Surface is concave, that it may 
enlarge the area of the cavity of the nose : the channel it forms 
is the nasal fossa, the posterior and inferior parts of which are 
