This tutorial is designed to help you more clearly understand the relationships between the bones of the skull. The bones of the skull do not just line up in one plane and many of them wrap from one surface to another. For this reason it is important to trace the suture lines to get a more complete understanding of the extent of each bone. As skulls age it is often difficult to see the sutures that define the edges of the bone. Therefore it can be helpful to examine disarticulated skulls.
Click on the numbered regions of the skull to see the individual bones. As you view the isolated bones make sure you understand their orientation, then consider how adjacent bones would articulate with them.
| Lateral Views | Right side - Anterior end is to the right Left side - Anterior end is to the left |
Ventral Views |
Anterior end is up unless noted |
Return
to cat tutorial