Palate

Question 1

Hard Palate— Features?

Answer 1

Hard palate forms the anterior 4/5th of the palate.
It is formed by 2 bones:
•Ant 2/3rd by Palatine process of maxilla
•Post 1/3rd by horizontal plate of Palatine

Anterior margin in continuous with alveolar arch and gums. Posterior margin is free and attaches soft palate. Sup surface forms roof of nasal cavity. Inf surface forms roof of mouth.

Features of inferior surface are:

1) Incisive fossa - Anteriorly in the median plane, just behind the incisor teeth. Has the opening of right & left incisive canals which transmit Greater Palatine art & Nasopalatine nv
2) Greater Palatine foramen- On the posterolateral corner. Transmit Greater Palatine vessels and nv
3) Lesser Palatine Foramen- 2-3 in number, present on pyramidal process of Palatine, transmit lesser Palatine vessels and nv.
4) Posterior nasal spine- at the centre of posterior free border of hard palate
5) Palatine crests- curved ridges in front of the posterior border of hard palate.

Question 2

Nerve supply, blood supply of Hard Palate?

Answer 2

• Nerve supply - Greater Palatine Nerve and Nasopalatine nerve (branches of Pterygopalatine Ganglion)
• Blood supply - Greater Palatine branch of maxillary artery
• Vein- Pterygoid plexus

•Lymphatics-
Upper deep cervical LN
Retropharyngeal LN

Question 3

Name the muscles of soft palate.

Answer 3

Soft palate is a fold of mucous membranes enclosing 5 pairs of muscles.

1) Tensor palati
2) Levator Palati
3) Musculus uvulae
4) Palatoglossus
5) Palatopharyngeus

Question 4

Nerve Supply of Soft Palate?

Answer 4

1) Motor Supply
•All except Tensor Palati are supplied by Pharyngeal Plexus derived from Cranial Accessory nerve (through Vagus)
•Tensor Palati supplied by Mandibular nerve (via Nerve to Medial Pterygoid from the trunk)

2) General Sensory
•Lesser Palatine nerve
•Glosspharyngeal nerve

3) Gustatory - Lesser Palatine -> Greater petrosal nerve -> geniculate ganglion-> NTS
4) Secremotor - Lesser Palatine