ANATOMY OF THE HORSE.' 267 
enable them to resist considerable pressure, and withstand, without 
fracture, any ordinary injury. 
Difference, —The superior bone exceeds in volume the inferior, 
and makes its convolution from below, its upper border being 
attached; whereas, the reverse is the case with the inferior one. 
Connexion, —The superior bone is connected, above, with the 
ethmoid; and laterally, with the nasal bone. It contributes to the 
formation of the anterior part or floor of the frontal sinus. The 
inferior turbinated is fixed to the superior maxillary bone. 
THE VOMER. 
Situation, —Along the floor of the nose, preserving the median 
longitudinal line dividing the chambers. 
Figure, —Elongated: posterior portion, broad, quadrilateral, 
and flattened; anterior, narrow, grooved, and lengtl\ened. 
Division, —Into two extremities and two borders. 
Extremities, —The posterior or broad part exhibit's a 
lower surfacey somewhat convex, which is smooth and free; an 
upper surfacey somewhat concave, which embraces and almost 
conceals the body of the ethmoid bone; a superior crescentic bor¬ 
der, between which and the ethmoid is a narrow hiatus, giving 
passage to some blood-vessels and neiwes to the septum narium; 
two lateral borders, united with the palate bones; andybz/r cornua 
or projecting acuminated ends, the two superior articulating with 
the sphenoid bone, the inferior with the palate bones. The an¬ 
terior extremity is broader than other parts of the grooved 
shaft, in consequence of being flattened above and below; it 
reaches as far forw^ard as the palatine processes of the anterior 
maxillary bone. 
Borders.— The superior presents a long narrow chasm or 
groove, deeper posteriorly than anteriorly, which receives the car¬ 
tilaginous partition called the septum narium. The inferior 
border is semi-cylindrical, and presents a posterior part, smooth 
and free from any connexion; and an anterior, which denticulates 
with the palatine processes of the superior maxillary bone. 
Connexion, —With the ethmoid and sphenoid, and with the 
superior and anterior maxillary and palate bones. 
THE INFERIOR MAXILLARY BONE. (OS MAXILLARE 
INFERIUS.) 
Constituting, by itself, the inferior maxilla, or lower jaw. 
Situation, —Composing the inferior and posterior parts of the 
face. 
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