temporal fenestra
Reptile skull hole
A temporal fenestra is an opening in the skull behind the eye socket, found in reptiles, birds, and mammals.
The number and position of these fenestrae—none, one, or two on each side—classify vertebrates into major evolutionary groups.
Dinosaurs and their descendants have two; mammals evolved from ancestors with one.
The openings allow jaw muscles to bulge during chewing and provide attachment points for stronger bites.
- skullHead's bone casing
- archosaurRuling reptile clade member
- dinosaurExtinct Mesozoic reptile
- reptileCold-blooded scaled vertebrate
- jawBone holding teeth
muscle · opening · bone · cranium · fossil · vertebrate · evolution · lizard · crocodile · orbit · mandible · pterosaur · paleontology · cheekbone · anatomy · window · socket · attachment
temporal fenestraforamen
Anatomical bone opening
canal · fontanelle · fissure · meatus
temporal, temporality, temporarily, temporary, temporize, tempo, tempus, fenestration, defenestration