Palatine process of maxilla
Encyclopedia
The palatine process of the maxilla
(palatal process), is a thick, horizontal process of the maxilla. It forms the anterior three-fourths of the hard palate
, the horizontal plate of the palatine bone
making up the rest.
It is perforated by numerous foramina for the passage of the nutrient vessels; is channelled at the back part of its lateral border by a groove, sometimes a canal, for the transmission of the descending palatine vessels and the anterior palatine nerve from the spheno-palatine ganglion; and presents little depressions for the lodgement of the palatine glands
.
When the two maxillae are articulated, a funnel-shaped opening, the incisive foramen
, is seen in the middle line, immediately behind the incisor teeth.
In this opening the orifices of two lateral canals are visible; they are named the incisive canals
or foramina of Stenson; through each of them passes the terminal branch of the descending palatine artery
and the nasopalatine nerve
.
Occasionally two additional canals are present in the middle line; they are termed the foramina of Scarpa
, and when present transmit the nasopalatine nerves, the left passing through the anterior, and the right through the posterior canal.
On the under surface of the palatine process, a delicate linear suture, well seen in young skulls, may sometimes be noticed extending lateralward and forward on either side from the incisive foramen to the interval between the lateral incisor and the canine tooth
.
The small part in front of this suture constitutes the premaxilla (os incisivum), which in most vertebrates forms an independent bone; it includes the whole thickness of the alveolus, the corresponding part of the floor of the nose and the anterior nasal spine, and contains the sockets of the incisor teeth.
The upper surface of the palatine process is concave from side to side, smooth, and forms the greater part of the floor of the nasal cavity. It presents, close to its medial margin, the upper orifice of the incisive canal.
The lateral border of the process is incorporated with the rest of the bone.
The medial border is thicker in front than behind, and is raised above into a ridge, the nasal crest, which, with the corresponding ridge of the opposite bone, forms a groove for the reception of the vomer
. The front part of this ridge rises to a considerable height, and is named the incisor crest; it is prolonged forward into a sharp process, which forms, together with a similar process of the opposite bone, the anterior nasal spine
.
The posterior border is serrated for articulation with the horizontal part of the palatine bone
.
Maxilla
The maxilla is a fusion of two bones along the palatal fissure that form the upper jaw. This is similar to the mandible , which is also a fusion of two halves at the mental symphysis. Sometimes The maxilla (plural: maxillae) is a fusion of two bones along the palatal fissure that form the upper...
(palatal process), is a thick, horizontal process of the maxilla. It forms the anterior three-fourths of the hard palate
Hard palate
The hard palate is a thin horizontal bony plate of the skull, located in the roof of the mouth. It spans the arch formed by the upper teeth.It is formed by the palatine process of the maxilla and horizontal plate of palatine bone....
, the horizontal plate of the palatine bone
Palatine bone
The palatine bone is a bone in many species of the animal kingdom, commonly termed the palatum .-Human anatomy:...
making up the rest.
It is perforated by numerous foramina for the passage of the nutrient vessels; is channelled at the back part of its lateral border by a groove, sometimes a canal, for the transmission of the descending palatine vessels and the anterior palatine nerve from the spheno-palatine ganglion; and presents little depressions for the lodgement of the palatine glands
Palatine glands
The palatine glands form a continuous layer on the posterior surface of the mucous membrane of the soft palate and around the uvula.They are pure mucous glands....
.
When the two maxillae are articulated, a funnel-shaped opening, the incisive foramen
Incisive foramen
The fossa incisiva is an opening in the bone of the oral hard palate where blood vessels and nerves may pass. There are four of these openings in the incisive fossa.-Formation:...
, is seen in the middle line, immediately behind the incisor teeth.
In this opening the orifices of two lateral canals are visible; they are named the incisive canals
Incisive canals
In the opening of the incisive foramen, the orifices of two lateral canals are visible; they are named the incisive canals or foramina of Stensen....
or foramina of Stenson; through each of them passes the terminal branch of the descending palatine artery
Descending palatine artery
-Course:It descends through the pterygopalatine canal with the anterior palatine branch of the sphenopalatine ganglion, and, emerging from the greater palatine foramen, runs forward in a groove on the medial side of the alveolar border of the hard palate to the incisive canal; the terminal branch...
and the nasopalatine nerve
Nasopalatine nerve
One branch of the posterior superior nasal branches , longer and larger than the others, is named the nasopalatine nerve ....
.
Occasionally two additional canals are present in the middle line; they are termed the foramina of Scarpa
Foramina of Scarpa
In the maxilla, occasionally two additional canals are present in the middle line of the palatine process; they are termed the foramina of Scarpa, and when present transmit the nasopalatine nerves, the left passing through the anterior, and the right through the posterior canal....
, and when present transmit the nasopalatine nerves, the left passing through the anterior, and the right through the posterior canal.
On the under surface of the palatine process, a delicate linear suture, well seen in young skulls, may sometimes be noticed extending lateralward and forward on either side from the incisive foramen to the interval between the lateral incisor and the canine tooth
Canine tooth
In mammalian oral anatomy, the canine teeth, also called cuspids, dogteeth, fangs, or eye teeth, are relatively long, pointed teeth...
.
The small part in front of this suture constitutes the premaxilla (os incisivum), which in most vertebrates forms an independent bone; it includes the whole thickness of the alveolus, the corresponding part of the floor of the nose and the anterior nasal spine, and contains the sockets of the incisor teeth.
The upper surface of the palatine process is concave from side to side, smooth, and forms the greater part of the floor of the nasal cavity. It presents, close to its medial margin, the upper orifice of the incisive canal.
The lateral border of the process is incorporated with the rest of the bone.
The medial border is thicker in front than behind, and is raised above into a ridge, the nasal crest, which, with the corresponding ridge of the opposite bone, forms a groove for the reception of the vomer
Vomer
The vomer is one of the unpaired facial bones of the skull. It is located in the midsagittal line, and articulates with the sphenoid, the ethmoid, the left and right palatine bones, and the left and right maxillary bones.-Biology:...
. The front part of this ridge rises to a considerable height, and is named the incisor crest; it is prolonged forward into a sharp process, which forms, together with a similar process of the opposite bone, the anterior nasal spine
Anterior nasal spine
Medially, the anterior surface of the maxilla is limited by a deep concavity, the nasal notch, the margin of which gives attachment to the Dilator naris posterior and ends below in a pointed process, which with its fellow of the opposite side forms the anterior nasal spine.-External links:* * -...
.
The posterior border is serrated for articulation with the horizontal part of the palatine bone
Palatine bone
The palatine bone is a bone in many species of the animal kingdom, commonly termed the palatum .-Human anatomy:...
.