Dalvinder Singh¹, Poonam Patnaik², Neha Gupta³

¹Professor, ²Associate Professor,
Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Dentistry, Jamia Millia Islamia, Delhi 3Professor, Sudha Rustagi College of Dental Science & Research Institute, Faridabad, Haryana -121002

Corresponding Author: Dalvinder Singh

ABSTRACT

The greater palatine foramen conducts the greater palatine nerve, which is responsible for the innervation of the posterior hard palate. The morphometric knowledge of the greater palatine foramen is essential for anaesthetic procedures required in maxillofacial surgical procedures.
The aim of this study was to assess Morphometry and morphology of the greater palatine foramen in dry skulls of adults from north India. The study was conducted in 78 adult, dried, unsexed skulls of the north Indian population. All the skulls studied were normal with fully erupted third molars and free from any pathological changes. The dimension between greater palatine foramen to mid sagittal plane, incisive fossa and posterior border of hard palate were analyzed using a vernier caliper and a divider. The position, shape and direction of greater palatine foramen with its variations were also noted on both sides. In the present study the mean distance of the greater palatine foramen from mid sagittal plane of the palate was 14.45±1.25 mm and 14.66±1.13 mm on the right and left sides respectively, and from the incisive fossa was 36.91±2.39 mm on the right side and 36.97±2.66 mm on the left side. The mean distance of the greater palatine foramen to posterior border of hard palate was 4.75±0.95 mm and 4.43±1.07 mm on the right and left sides respectively. In 80.77% skulls the shape of the foramen was found to be oval whereas in 19.23% skulls it was round. In 76.92% skulls greater palatine foramen was located opposite to the 3rd maxillary molar, in 19.87% skulls between 2nd and 3rd molar, in 3.21% skulls distal to the 3rd molar. None of greater palatine foramen was located opposite to 2nd molar. In 66.03% skulls the foramen was directed anteromedial, in 25.64% skulls anterolateral and in 8.33% skulls it was directed anteriorly. The average number of lesser palatine foramen observed was 1.56±0.67 on right and 1.29 ±0.48 on left side of skull.
These observations about the relative anatomical position of greater palatine foramen can be utilized for anthropological studies, ethnic & racial classification of crania, greater palatine nerve block & surgical procedures in hard palate.

Key words: greater palatine foramen, hard palate, greater palatine canal, maxillary nerve block, molar teeth

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