Cat Skeleton

Sphenoid

a compound bone that forms the base of the cranium, behind the eye and below the front part of the brain. It has two pairs of broad lateral "wings" and a number of other projections, and contains two air-filled sinuses.

Mastoid process

a conical prominence of the temporal bone behind the ear, to which neck muscles are attached, and which has air spaces linked to the middle ear.

Interparietal

a dermal bone situated between the parietal and supraoccipital.

Coronoid process

a flattened triangular projection above the angle of the jaw where the temporalis muscle is attached

Malleus

a hammer-shaped small bone or ossicle of the middle ear which connects with the incus and is attached to the inner surface of the eardrum

Tympanic bulla

a hollow bony structure on the ventral, posterior portion of the skull that encloses parts of the middle and inner ear. In most species, it is formed by the tympanic part of the temporal bone. (J)

Hamulus

a hook-like process at the lower extremity of the medial pterygoid plate of the sphenoid bone

Incisors

a narrow-edged tooth at the front of the mouth, adapted for cutting

Premaxillae

a pair of small cranial bones at the very tip of the upper jaw of many animals, usually, but not always, bearing teeth (E)

Pterygoid

a paired bone forming part of the palate of many vertebrates, behind the palatine bones

Zygomatic

a paired bone which articulates with the maxilla, the temporal bone, the sphenoid bone and the frontal bone.

Occipital

a saucer-shaped membrane bone situated at the back and lower part of the skull, is trapezoidal in shape and curved on itself

Incus

a small anvil-shaped bone in the middle ear, transmitting vibrations between the malleus and stapes

Stapes

a small stirrup-shaped bone in the middle ear, transmitting vibrations from the incus to the inner ear

Dens

a toothlike projection of the axis that articulates with the atlas

Zygomatic arch

aka cheek bone is formed by the zygomatic process of temporal bone (a bone extending forward from the side of the skull, over the opening of the ear) and the temporal process of the zygomatic bone (the side of the cheekbone), the two being united by an oblique suture (zygomaticotemporal suture)

Premolars

also called bicuspids, are transitional teeth located between the canine and molar teeth

Canines

also called cuspids, are relatively long, pointed teeth.

Lacrimal

an irregularly rectangular thin plate, forming part of the medial wall of the orbit posterior to the frontal process of the maxilla; it articulates with the inferior nasal concha, ethmoid, frontal, and maxillary bones.

Mandibular foramen

an opening on the internal surface of the ramus (posterior and perpendicularly oriented part of the mandible) for divisions of the mandibular nerve and blood vessels to pass through

Exoccipitals

bones situated to either side of the foramen magnum of the skull, in mammals forming the condyles

Orbits

cavity or socket of the skull in which the eye and its appendages are situated

Parietals

cranial bone forming part of the side and top of the head. In front each parietal bone adjoins the frontal bone; in back, the occipital bone

Occipital condyles

each of two rounded knobs on the occipital bone that form a joint with the first cervical vertebra

Temporal

either of a pair of bones that form part of the side of the skull on each side and enclose the middle and inner ear.

Maxillae

either of a pair of irregularly shaped bones of the skull, fusing in the midline, supporting the upper teeth, and forming part of the eye sockets, hard palate, and nasal cavity; upper jaw

Basisphenoid

forms part of the floor of the braincase and lay immediately above the parasphenoid (R)

Choanae

in animals with secondary palates, they allow breathing when the mouth is closed

Frontals

includes the postorbital processes; a bowl-shaped bone in the frontal (forehead) region of the skull. It is located superior to the nasal bones and maxillae and anterior to the parietal bones

Infraorbital canal

is a canal found at the base of the orbit that opens on to the maxilla. It is continuous with the infraorbital groove and opens onto the maxilla at the infraorbital foramen

Nasal turbinates

is a long, narrow and curled bone shelf (shaped like an elongated sea-shell) that protrudes into the breathing passage of the nose

Postorbital process

is a projection on the frontal bone near the rear upper edge of the eye socket.[1] In many mammals, it reaches down to the zygomatic arch

Temporal fossa

is a shallow depression on the side of the skull bounded by the temporal lines and terminating below the level of the zygomatic arch.

Mandibular fossa

is the depression in the temporal bone that articulates with the mandibular condyle

Foramen rotundum

one of the several circular apertures (the foramina) located in the base of the skull, in the anterior and medial part of the sphenoid bone (between the orbital fissure and foramen ovale)

Foramen ovale

one of the several circular apertures (the foramina) located in the base of the skull, in the anterior and medial part of the sphenoid bone (posterior to the foramen rotundum)

Vomer

one of the unpaired facial bones of the skull. It is located in the midsagittal line, and articulates with the sphenoid, the ethmoid, the left and right palatine bones, and the left and right maxillary bones. It forms the inferior part of the nasal septum, with the superior part formed by the ethmoid

Naris

paired opening of the nose

External auditory meatus

passageway that leads from the outside of the head to the tympanic membrane, or eardrum membrane, of each ear. The structure of the external auditory canal is the same in all mammals. In appearance it is a slightly curved tube that extends inward from the floor of the auricle, or protruding portion of the outer ear, and ends blindly at the eardrum membrane, which separates it from the middle ear

Palatines

situated at the back part of the nasal cavity between the maxilla and the pterygoid process of the sphenoid bone

Lacrimal canal

small opening in the lacrimal bone where a short canal leading from a minute orifice on a small elevation at the medial angle of each eyelid to the lacrimal sac

Orbital fissure

superior orbital fissure is a foramen in the skull, although strictly it is more of a cleft, lying between the lesser and greater wings of the sphenoid bone

Foramen magnum

the base of the cranium is the occipital bone, which has a central opening (foramen magnum) to admit the spinal cord

Mandible

the jaw or a jawbone, especially the lower jawbone

Optic canal

the short canal through the lesser wing of the sphenoid bone at the apex of the eye socket through which the optic nerve and the ophthalmic artery pass

Basioccipitals

the thick, somewhat quadrilateral piece in front of the foramen

Condyloid process

thicker than the coronoid process of the mandible and consists of two portions: the condyle and the constricted portion which supports it, the neck

Nasals

two small oblong bones, varying in size and form in different individuals; they are placed side by side at the middle and upper part of the face, and form, by their junction, "the bridge" of the nose

Supraoccipital

a bone on the dorsal side of the great foramen of the skull, usually forming a part of the occipital