Necturus Skull Definitions/Descriptions
a. Mandible- formed from the splanchnocranium and composed mostly of the large dentary bone; articulates with the upper jaw by Meckel’s cartilage
b. Premaxillary- a pair of bones at the tip of the cranium; it is partially tooth bearing
c. Vomer- wedged between the frontal and premaxillary bones, it is partially covered by a cartilaginous process of the chondrocranium
d. Frontal- runs down the center of the skull, directly posterior to the premaxillary
e. Palatoquadrate/Pterygoid-  forms the central portion of the lateral margin
f. Prootic- lies lateral to the parietal near the suture of the parietals and frontals; partially visible in both dorsal and lateral views of the skull
h. Opisthotic- lies posterior to the parietal
i. Occipital condyle- part of the exoccipitals, which form the skull lateral and ventral to the foramen magnum; help provide articulation for the first cervical vertebra
j. Parietal- slender paired bones posterior to the frontals;
k. Parasphenoid - A triangular-shaped plate that forms most of the skull's ventral surface
l.  Foramen magnum - The large opening in the posterior side of the skull where the spinal chord passes through
n. Angular - the bone that primarily composes the mandible medially.
o. Dentary - the bone that composes the mandible laterally.
p. Collumella - anterior to the opisthotic, which is a disc-shaped covering over the oval window.
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