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| The viscerocranium is the pharyngeal skeleton. It is derived only from the neural crest and undergoes endochondral and intramembranous ossification. | | The viscerocranium is the pharyngeal skeleton. It is derived only from the neural crest and undergoes endochondral and intramembranous ossification. |
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| + | The shape and size of the skull varies widely, not only between species but also with age, breed and sex of similar species. |
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| ==Structure== | | ==Structure== |
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| ===Occipital Bone=== | | ===Occipital Bone=== |
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− | * | + | *Forms the nuchal wall |
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| + | *Forms the foramen magnum |
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| + | *Basilar part (pars basilaris) |
| + | **Caudal base of the cranium |
| + | **Rostral to foramen magnum |
| + | **Joined by cartilagenous suture to basisphenoid bone |
| + | **Muscular tubercules on ventral surface where the flexors of the head and neck attach |
| + | **Caudal cranial fossa enclose the pons and medulla oblongata |
| + | |
| + | *Squamous part (pars squamosa) |
| + | **Dorsal to lateral parts and occipital condyles |
| + | **Nuchal crest present |
| + | ***Easily palpable |
| + | ***Landmark for collection of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) |
| + | **External occipital protuberances present which provide muscle attachment sites for the nuchal ligament |
| + | |
| + | *Lateral parts (partes laterales) |
| + | **Lateral borders of foramen magnum |
| + | **Occipital condyles present which articulate with the atlas to form the atlanto-occipital joint |
| + | **Paracondylar process present which provides muscle attachment sights for muscles of the head |
| + | **Hypoglossal canal |
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| ===Sphenoid Bone=== | | ===Sphenoid Bone=== |
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| ===Mandible=== | | ===Mandible=== |
| + | |
| + | ==Foramen== |
| + | |
| + | *Jugular Foramen |
| + | **Located either side of basilar part of occipital bone |
| + | **Adjacent to tympanic bulla |
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| + | *Foramen Magnum |
| + | **Formed by occipital bones |
| + | |
| + | *Hypoglossal Canal |
| + | **Between paracondylar and condylar processes on lateral part of occipital bone |
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| ==Species Differences== | | ==Species Differences== |
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| *2 halves of the mandible do not fuse allowing some movement | | *2 halves of the mandible do not fuse allowing some movement |
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| + | *External sagittal crest arises from nuchal crest |
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| [[Image:Lion skull.jpg|thumb|right|150px|Feline skull (Lion) - Copyright RVC]] | | [[Image:Lion skull.jpg|thumb|right|150px|Feline skull (Lion) - Copyright RVC]] |
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| *2 halves of the mandible do not fuse allowing some movement | | *2 halves of the mandible do not fuse allowing some movement |
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− | *Weak sagittal crest | + | *Weak external sagittal crest arises from nuchal crest |
| [[Image:Horse Skeleton.jpg|thumb|right|150px|Horse Skeleton - Copyright Nottingham]] | | [[Image:Horse Skeleton.jpg|thumb|right|150px|Horse Skeleton - Copyright Nottingham]] |
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| ===Equine=== | | ===Equine=== |
− | *Weak sagittal crest | + | |
| + | *Weak external sagittal crest arises from nuchal crest |
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| *Long skull length | | *Long skull length |
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| *[[Anatomy & Physiology of the Horn|Cornual]] process on frontal bone | | *[[Anatomy & Physiology of the Horn|Cornual]] process on frontal bone |
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| + | *Nuchal crest reduced to nuchal line |
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| *Prominent temporal line | | *Prominent temporal line |