general terms for regions and cranial skeleton (coyote)

cranium

the skull; comprises braincase and rostrum

anterior/rostrum

front part of skull

posterior/occipital

back of skull

dorsal

view of the top

ventral

underside

lateral

from the side

fossa

wide depression

canal

bony tunnel

foramen

large hole in the bone

condyle

rounded elevation

process

localized projection of bone

suture

rigid joints

temporal opening

lateral opening of the skull immediately posterior to the orbit; evolutionarily derived from the temporal fenestra of synapsids

1

premaxilla: paired bones forming the lower margin of the outer nasal openings and the anteriormost portion of the palate; holds incisor teeth

2

nasal: paired bones forming the anteriormost roof of the nasal cavities

3

maxilla: paired bones that bear all upper teeth except the incisors

4

lacrimal: paired bones located on or adjacent to the anteriodorsal base of the zygomatic arch; perforated by the lacrimal canal (or tear duct)

5

jugal: paired bones that form the central portion of the zygomatic arch

6

frontal: paired bones located posterior to the nasals and dorsal to maxillae; support antlers and horns in taxa with these structures

7

squamosal: paired bones located lateral and ventral to the parietals; part of the zygomatic arch

8

parietal: paired bones located posterior to the frontals, forming the majority of the roof of the braincase; the suture that joins the frontal and parietal bones

9

interparietal: often indistinct or obliterated as it is a diagnostic trait; when visible, located at the posterior border of the parietals

10

mastoid process: ventrally projecting small process of the mastoid bone

11

postorbital process (forms postorbital bar in some species when process connect across orbit, such as in slow loris skull)

postorbital plate

separates the orbits from the temporal fossa and opening; all higher primates have one

12

upper premolar

13

zygomatic arch: the conspicuous arch of bone extending laterally on either side of the cranium; contains maxilla, jugal, and squamosal bones

14

upper canine

15

incisive foramen: two little holes on premaxilla

16

orbit: socket-like depressions in which the eyes are housed; the eye sockets

17

sagittal crest: a ridge of bone located along the midline of the posteriordorsal aspect of the skull; serves for additional (temporal) muscle attachment and is therefore most prominent in taxa requiring large temporal muscles

occipital (lamboidal) crest

important place for attachment of neck muscles

occipital bone

posterior wall of the braincase; formed by the fusion of the supraoccipital, basiooccipital, and two exoccipitals (does not include auditory bullae)

1

premaxilla

2

nasal

3

maxilla

4

lacrimal

5

jugal

6

frontal

7

squamosal

8

parietal

9

sagittal crest

10

interparietal

11

supraoccipital: above foramen magnum (“supra” means above)

12

occipital condyle (on exoccipital bones): articulation points for the skull, setting into depressions of the atlas (the first vertebra)

13

paraoccipital process: serves for insertion of certain chewing muscles and for muscles that open the jaw

14

external auditory meatus

15

auditory bulla: encloses parts of the middle and inner ear; bulges

16

alisphenoid

17

pterygoid: pair of wing-like bones

18

palatine: paired bones forming the posterior portion of the palate

19

molars 1-2

20

orbitosphenoid

21

premolars 1-4

22

incisors 1-3

23

infraorbital process

24

postorbital process

25

canine

1

premaxilla (ventral)

2

maxilla (ventral)

3 & 5

palatine (ventral): paired bones forming the posterior of the palate

4

jugal (ventral)

6

alisphenoid (ventral): perforated by alisphenoid canal; wing-like

7

foramen ovale (ventral) (a canal)

8

squamosal (ventral)

9

auditory bulla (ventral): encloses parts of the middle and inner ear; bulges

10

mastoid process (ventral): ventrally projecting small process of the mastoid bone

11

postorbital process (ventral)

12

supraoccipital (ventral)

13

foramen magnum (ventral); where the spinal cord attatches

14

occipital condyle (ventral): articulation points for the skull, setting into depressions of the atlas (the first vertebra)

15

basioccipital (ventral); where occipital bone ends

16

basiosphenoid (ventral)

17

pterygoid (ventral): pair of wing-like bones

18

presphenoid (ventral): long little bone

19

vomer (ventral): separates the two sides of the nasal passages

20

incisive foramen (ventral)

1

incisors 1-3

2

premolars 1-4

3

molars 1-3

4

coronoid process; inserts into the temporal fossa; serves for attachment for portions of the temporal muscle

5

sigmoid notch

6

condyloid process: bears the mandibular condyle, which articulates with the cranium in the mandibular fossa

7

angular process: may be enlarged for insertion of powerful masseter and other jaw musculature

8

mental foraminae/canal: on mandible