[The vomer and its role in the transfer of pressure in the masticatory system]

Dimensions of certain parts of the orofacial skeleton and vomer were obtained by a bioanthropologic measurement for which native preparations of whole and parasagitally sawed up skulls were used. The application of a harmonic frame of the skull and the main dimensions of the vomer allowed the construction of an ideal model of the vomer using Araldit B. The photoelasticimetric procedure and pressure load to the model were used for the determination of possible pressure tensions, if any, occurring during mastification, namely the share of the vomer in the transfer of these tensions to the base of the cranium. The study has shown that even the vomer (besides other bones of the orofacial skeleton) has its share in the transfer of pressure tensions to the base of the cranium on a level with its symmetry, and that concurrently, like a rigid support, tightens the hard palate, thus considerably adding to the stability of this part of the orofacial skeleton. The vomer has a relatively high inertia (up to 1.8 cm) and the bottom stability limit at which the vomer resists to bending figures out between the set values of 684 i 1045 N, which means that a millimetre thick vomer would not bend at chosen elasticity modules or axial force values lower than (0.75 to 1.5) x 10(6) N/cm2.