jaw skeleton -->
medical dictionary

That part of the skull derived from the embryonic pharyngeal arches; it comprises the facial bones of the facial skeleton (under bone) and is distinct from that part of the skull which forms the neurocranium or braincase.

Synonyms: cranium viscerale, visceral cranium, jaw skeleton, splanchnocranium.

Origin: viscero-+ cranium

Cartilaginous viscerocranium, those elements of the foetal skull derived from the second and succeeding pharyngeal arch cartilages.

Membranous viscerocranium, membranous bones, developed in the foetal skull, that overlie maxillary and mandibular components of the first pharyngeal arch cartilage.

(05 Mar 2000)