30 CRANIA BEITANNICA. [CHAP. III.
great interest, from thus being tlie receptacle of the wonderful apparatus of the organ of
hearing. In the Esquimaux skull the mastoid process has an unusual lateral prominence. The
sphenoid bone nearly completes the base of the calvarium, forms buttresses against which the
bones of the face obtain a seciu-e sui^port, and extends into the temples to join the lower edges
of the parietal and the frontal bones. The wing of the sphenoid which enters into the formation
of tho temporal portion of the box of the calTarium, is denominated the alisplienoid by Owen;
and the body of the bone in the basis of the calTariT,un, hasisphenoid. In some skulls of
Melanian races the sphenoid does not reach the parietal bone, but is joined to the fi-ontal alone
in this portion of its circumference. The ethmoid hone, which is intimately connected with the
organ of smell, completes the base of the brain-chamber, and is placed between the orbital
plates of the fi-ontal bone, and in fi-ont of the sphenoid.
Of the bones of the face, the two svperior maxillary are the most important. Each constitutes
a large portion of the orbit of that side to which it belongs, and of the nasal and oral
cavities ; and gives support to the bones of the nose, the tiu-binated bones and the upper teeth.
These latter have theii- roots inserted into a portion of the maxillary bone, called the alveolar
process or edge. In the Esquimaux, especially the eastern, the facial sm-faee is remarkably
flat and smooth. In the ancient Briton we shaU find it unusually rugged. In some Negro
and Australian tribes, as well as others, the alveolar edge of this bone projects forwards in a
remarkable manner, constituting the chief feature of Dr. Prichard's prognathons skull. The
superior maxillary bone has a nasal process running upwards to join the frontal bone at the
inner angle of the orbit, which gives the chief basis of support to the next bone. The two nasal
bones form the bridge of the nose. There are no other cranial bones which exhibit such extreme
differences of size and form as these small ones; diiferences, the effects of which are generally
much heightened by having corresponding variations in the nasal processes of the upper
maxillary bone usually concim-ing with them. In the skull of an African Negro, in which they
are joined together at an angle so very obtuse as only to present an imperceptible elevation at
the middle line of the nose, they are two small flat plates of bone, presenting their outer siu-face
forwards. In some Chinese skulls they are so narrow as to be reduced to two short linear
bones. In the Esquimaux of the eastern shores of BafiBn's Bay they are scarcely broader, but
frequently longer*. In some Em-opean races the nasal bones not only exhibit greatly increased
superficial dimensions, but have their position so changed as to stand forwards upon the broader
nasal processes of the superior maxillary bones, meeting each other at an acute angle, and thus
forming a handsome prominent nose. This is well seen in the crania of the ancient Greeks and
Romans, and is equally apparent in those of many of the North American Indians—in some
Roman skulls this prominence is enormous. The two lachrymal hones, small thin shells of bone
situated at the inner angle of each orbit, have been considered to present diversities in the
races; and the turbinated bones, placed in the cavity of the nostrils to extend the sensitive
olfactory membrane, need not further detain us; any more than the vomer, which constitutes a
portion of the bony partition of the nasal cavity. The two malar or oheek-io?ies form the lower
and outer edges of the orbit, having branches runnirig in three directions ; one, inwards, to join
* In those of the opposite or American shores they are Tcry
different, presentmg a length, breadth and angle of position
almost equal to those of European races, having aquiline noses.
The best informed authorities have declared there is no difference
to he observed in the Esquimaux in the vast extent of
country over which they are scattered, from Greenland to the
shores of Behring's Straits. This, however, is a shght yet
striking anatomical difference, which is constant, as far as our
opportunities of emminiTig their slaiUs have hitherto gone.
Further observations are, however, required as to this point.
CHAP. III. ] ANATOMICAL EXPLANATIONS. 31
the superior maxillary below the orbit; one, upwards, to meet the external angular process of
the frontal bone; and one, backwards, to complete the arch of the zygoma in conjunction with
the process of that name derived from the temporal. These bones again offer much diversity in
the various races. In some of the African tribes their small front surface is joined to the large
lateral siu-face at nearly a right angle, in such a manner that this latter part of the bone looks
almost strictly outwards at the side of the face. In the chief European races also their surface
imder the cheeks presents itself almost wholly laterally, but not at quite the same angle, so as
stUl to give rise to a narrow face. But in the Esquimaux the angle of position of the malar
bone is so changed that its expanded surface looks considerably more forwards, which has the
effect of carrying the zygoma outwards, and producing a face of extraordinary breadth. The two
palate bones are seen to form the posterior portion of the palate, or roof of the mouth, being
supijlemented on to the large palatine processes of the superior maxillary bones. The vaulting
of the palatine arch is subject to great varieties in depth and breadth. The last bone of the face,
the loioerjaw, offers great differences in size, form, and weight. It has an alveolar edge or process
for the insertion of the teeth, like the upper jaw, and is divided by anatomists into a body
and ramus, or ascending branch, which latter bears the condyle, or surface articulating with the
condyloid cavity of the temporal bone. The diversities of this bone wiU engage our attention in
describing individual skulls as they come under notice.
By the profound and extended investigations of Comparative Anatomists over the entire
kingdom of vertebrated animals, assisted with the light to be obtained from the study of development,
the cranium has been analysed by a process of philosophical anatomy, and its segments
found to compose a number of vertebrje coalescing in the progress of growth into the osseous
box for the reception and protection of the brain and its membranes. The essential typical
form of an animal of the highest class is regarded to be a vertebra, or spine-bone, consisting of a
centre and a number of diverging appendages, and intended primarily to protect the nervous
matter contained in it. "The vertebral theory" of the composition of the skuU, which may
now be considered to be well established, is not always interpreted in the same way. Professor
Owen, however, agrees with Oken, who first propounded it, that the cranium consists of four
vertebral segments wMch constitu.te the receptacle of the encephalon, or great central nervous
mass, namely, proceeding from behind forwards, the Bpencephalic, or occipital vertebra, which
is formed by the coalescence of the elements of the occipital bone; the Mesencephalic, or
parietal vertebra, formed of the basisphenoid, mastoids, alisphenoids and the parietal bones; the
Prosencephalic, or frontal vertebra, formed of portions of the sphenoid, and the frontal bones;
and the Rhinencephalic, or nasal vertebra, formed of the vomer, portions of the ethmoid, and
the nasal bones. This brief indication of an interesting department of transcendental anatomy,
•without any attempt at defining the elements of each of these four cephalic vertebrae, will be
sufficient for the purpose of oiu" work *.
The teeth in their most developed and complete state are thirty-two in number, sixteen in
each jaw, corresponding to each other in name, and for the most part in form, in the two maxillaj,
the chief difference being that those of the upper are sensibly larger than those of the lower.
There are, therefore, eight on each side of each jaw. To begin from the median line, the two
nearest to it are called incisors, or cutting teeth; the next is the canine, in the place occupied in
* See Owen's Lecturcs on the Vertebrate AQIIIIRIS, p. 42, &c. 1846. Dr. Carpenter's Principles of Huinau Pliysiologv,
p. 150, Sth Ed. 1855.