PALATINE BONE ANATOMY

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS

What is the palatine bone?

• Intricate paired bone situated posteriorly in your nasal cavity
• Contributes to the hard palate formation
• Participates in constructing:
  • Nasal cavity walls
  • Orbital floor
  • Hard palate posterior portion

Articulations

What does the palatine bone articulate with?

• Sphenoid bone
• Ethmoid bone
• Maxilla
• Inferior nasal concha
• Vomer
• Contralateral palatine bone

STRUCTURAL COMPONENTS

What are the main parts of the palatine bone?

• Comprised of three main parts:
  • Horizontal plate
  • Perpendicular (vertical) plate
  • Multiple processes

PERPENDICULAR PLATE

What is the perpendicular plate of the palatine bone?

• Vertical portion ascending from the horizontal plate
• Functions:
  • Forms part of your nasal cavity lateral wall
  • Contributes to maxillary sinus walls
  • Provides structural support

Surfaces

What are the surfaces of the perpendicular plate?

• Nasal Surface — medial aspect
  • Contributes to your lateral nasal cavity wall
  • Provides articulation points for adjacent bones
• Maxillary Surface — lateral aspect
  • Forms part of your maxillary sinus walls

Crests

What are the crests of the perpendicular plate?

• Conchal Crest — horizontal ridge
  • Articulates with inferior nasal concha
  • Assists in your nasal cavity structure formation
• Ethmoidal Crest — horizontal ridge
  • Articulates with middle nasal concha of ethmoid bone

Greater Palatine Groove

What is the greater palatine groove?

• Vertical groove located on posterior maxillary surface
• Forms greater palatine canal when articulated with maxilla
• Transmits greater palatine nerve
• Transmits greater palatine vessels to your hard palate

PROCESSES OF PALATINE BONE

Pyramidal Process

What is the pyramidal process of the palatine bone?

• Posterolateral projection located at junction of horizontal and perpendicular plates
• Occupies gap between pterygoid processes of sphenoid
• Contains lesser palatine canals
• Lesser palatine foramina open on its inferior surface

Orbital Process

What is the orbital process of the palatine bone?

• Superior projection located at upper end of perpendicular plate
• Extends superolaterally
• Articulates with:
  • Maxilla
  • Sphenoid bone
  • Ethmoid bone
• Forms portion of your orbital floor

Sphenoidal Process

What is the sphenoidal process of the palatine bone?

• Horizontal projection
• Articulates with sphenoid body
• Articulates with vaginal process of sphenoid
• Contributes to your nasal cavity roof formation

Maxillary Process

What is the maxillary process of the palatine bone?

• Lateral extension that articulates with the maxilla

SPHENOPALATINE NOTCH AND FORAMEN

Sphenopalatine Notch

What is the sphenopalatine notch?

• Located between orbital and sphenoidal processes
• Converted to sphenopalatine foramen upon sphenoid articulation

Sphenopalatine Foramen

What is the sphenopalatine foramen?

• Opening formed by articulation with sphenoid bone
• Provides communication between your nasal cavity and pterygopalatine fossa
• Transmits neurovascular structures

HORIZONTAL PLATE

What is the horizontal plate of the palatine bone?

• Flat rectangular component
• Forms the posterior third of your hard palate
• Meets opposite palatine bone at midline

Surfaces

What are the surfaces of the horizontal plate?

• Nasal Surface — superior aspect
  • Contributes to your nasal cavity floor
• Palatine Surface — inferior aspect
  • Forms part of your oral cavity roof
  • Constitutes posterior third of your hard palate

Lesser Palatine Foramina

What are the lesser palatine foramina?

• Small openings located on posterior pyramidal process region
• Transmit lesser palatine nerves
• Transmit lesser palatine vessels to your soft palate

Posterior Nasal Spine

What is the posterior nasal spine?

• Midline bony projection located at posterior border of horizontal plate
• Provides muscular attachment site