ANATOMY OF REGIONS. 
203 
and occupies the line corresponding to the union of the anterior and 
second quarter of the cavities. The posterior or inferior meatus is very 
large, and united with that of the opposite side in consequence of the 
disposition of the vomer, which, instead of resting upon the palate bone, 
as in the horse, unite to the floor of the nasal cavities only towards the 
inferior half of the maxillary bone. The floor of the cavities has, there¬ 
fore, in the ox, a peculiar disposition, which gives it a bifurcated aspect 
forward. 
The cartilaginous septum -which separates the two cavities is thick, 
and possesses about the same width forward as backward, though its 
height is very great posteriorly—conformation which is a consequence of 
the special disposition of the vomer. 
The mucous of the nasal cavities is much like that of the horse— 
like it, its thickness varies ; very thin upon the bony part of the turbin¬ 
ated, it becomes very thick on the cartilaginous portions, as well as in 
the whole extent of the floor. The blood vessels are extremely numer¬ 
ous, and form a handsome network when artificially injected. 
The nasal cavities of the sheep , goat and swine have much analogy 
with those of the ox ; their length is in direct proportion to that of the 
face. 
In carnivorous the nasal cavities are rather smaller, but their pos¬ 
terior opening is wide. The turbinated bones have a peculiar form. 
The ethmoid in these animals is very large, and the ossification of its 
middle septum extends always far down. The vomer has a special dis¬ 
position ; its two lamelloe are turned on each side so as to limitate, 
specially behind, a round or oval space, perfectly free, but whose walls 
are also formed by the floor of the cavities and the internal face of the 
maxillary bone. This double septum of the vomer divides each nasal 
cavity in two parts, one superior or anterior, which can be considered as 
* 
the posterior chamber, one part posterior, the only opening allowing the 
passage of atmospheric air. 
As to the inferior region of the cavities, it presents, as in other ani¬ 
mals, the two turbinated separated by a middle meatus; the anterior tur¬ 
binate or ethmoidal is very small; the maxillary, extremely complicated, 
is formed by papyraceous lamelloe rolled upon themselves, resembling the 
lateral masses of the ethmoid ; its anterior extremity, single and cartil¬ 
aginous, extends to the external wing of the nose. The superior meatus 
goes to the posterior chamber of the cavities, the inferior terminates 
directly into the special space situated under the lateral lamella of the 
