suborbital (suborbital)

and n. I. a. Situated below the orbit of the eye or on the floor of that orbit; infra-orbital; subocular. Also suboptic, suborbitar.- Suborbital cartilage. See II. -Suborbital foramen, the infra-orbital foramen (which see, under foramen ). - Suborbital fo a. Same as canine fo a. II. n. A special formation of parts below, along the lower border of, or on the floor of the orbit of the eye. (a) A branch of the second division of the fifth nerve, which in various animals, as man, runs under the orbit and escapes upon the cheek through the suborbital foramen. (b) One of a chain of bones or cartilages which in many of the lower vertebrates borders the brim of the orbit below, and corresponds to a like series which may form the supra-orbital margin. The great development of one of these sub orbitals is a prominent feature of the mail-cheeked or cottoid fishes. See Scleropa riæ , and cut under teleost .