The ventral surface is concave and smooth over its caudal one-half and helps to form the cranial part of the brain-case. It presents slight ridges and depressions for convolutions of the cerebrum. At its narrowed middle region the ventral surface is marked by a thick transverse ridge ([Fig. 26], b). Caudally the ridge descends by a gentle slope to the level of the ventral surface of the bone. The cranial end of the ridge is pierced by an oval foramen through which the frontal sinus ([Fig. 43], m, m′), which lies within the ridge, communicates with the spaces in the ethmoid bone (nasal cavity). Craniad of the ridge the surface ([Fig. 26], c) is rough and, together with the raised medial border of the bone and the orbital plate, encloses a rectangular space which in the natural state receives a portion of the labyrinth of the ethmoid. The ventral surface is marked at its medial edge by a thin longitudinal ridge which, when the bones are articulated, is continuous with one of the vertical lamellæ of the ethmoid.
The medial border forms a vertical plate (d), broadest craniad and roughened for articulation with its fellow of the opposite side except at its cranial end, where it articulates with the border of the nasal bone.
The caudal border is roughened, bevelled at the expense of the outer surface, and articulated with the parietal bone except at its ventral end, where it articulates with the alisphenoid.
The lateral border is smooth, and it is here that the orbital plate is joined to the frontal plate at right angles. Along its cranial two-thirds this union is marked by a sharp ridge, the supraorbital margin ([Fig. 40], o) or arch. This ridge extends caudolaterad as a triangular projection, the zygomatic (or postorbital) process ([Fig. 40], n), which is flattened on its cranioventral face near its extremity and forms part of the boundary of the orbital fossa. At its cranial end the lateral border articulates with the nasal and maxillary bones.
The orbital plate ([Fig. 40], 5′) arises from the ventral surface of the lateral border of the frontal plate. It is directed ventrad, is smooth and concave on its outer surface, and forms the dorsal portion of the medial wall of the orbital fossa. Near its ventral border it bears the small ethmoidal foramen, for the artery of the same name.
On the caudal one-half of its inner surface ([Fig. 26]) it assists the caudal part of the dorsal plate in forming the brain-case. The cranial one-half of its inner surface is marked off from the remainder of the surface by a sharp irregular ridge which is for articulation with the cribriform plate of the ethmoid. Craniad of this the surface is marked by ridges and looks into the nasal cavity.
The cranial margin is produced dorsally in the form of a blunt triangular spine. Mediad of this spine the bone articulates with the lachrymal bone.
The ventral border articulates by its cranial one-third with the orbital plate of the palatine, and by its caudal two-thirds with the body and wing of the presphenoid.
Maxillary Bone. Maxilla
([Figs. 27] and [28]).—The maxillary bone forms the cranial and lateral portions of the roof of the mouth. The bones of opposite sides meet craniad, but diverge caudad to enclose the palatal plates of the palatine bones. Each consists of a thick prismatic ventral portion or body (a) and a thin flat plate, the frontal process (b), extending dorsad from the cranial part of the bone.