Pterygopalatine Fossa and Palate - LO 2
2. The hard palate is composed of which bones? What provides sensory innervation and arterial supply to this area?
The horizontal plates of the palatine bones (posteriorly) and palatine processes of the maxillae (anteriorly) are the components of the hard palate. The hard palate is covered by a thick mucosa, some of which include small salivary glands.
The hard palate is afferently served by the greater palatine n. and nasopalatine n., both branches of V2. The greater palatine n. enters the hard palate area via the greater palatine foramen, while the nasopalatine n. enters via the incisive foramen.
The primary vascular supply for the hard palate is derived from the greater palatine a., a branch of the descending palatine a. (third part of maxillary a.). Not all sources distinguish between the descending and greater palatine a. The greater palatine a. descends through the palatine canal, gives rise to lesser palatine branches, and traverses the greater palatine foramen (next to maxillary, 2nd molars) to supply the hard palate and associated mucosa.
