Greater palatine artery
Encyclopedia
The greater palatine artery is a terminal branch of the maxillary artery supplying blood to the hard palate
and nasal septum
.
branches off of the maxillary artery in the pterygopalatine fossa
and descends through the greater palatine canal
along with the greater palatine nerve
(from the pterygopalatine ganglion
). Once emerging from the greater palatine foramen
, it changes names to the greater palatine artery and begins to supply the hard palate
. As it terminates it travels through the incisive canal to anastomose with the sphenopalatine artery
to supply the nasal septum
.
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....
and nasal septum
Nasal septum
The nasal septum separates the left and right airways in the nose, dividing the two nostrils.It is depressed by the Depressor septi nasi muscle.-Composition:The fleshy external end of the nasal septum is sometimes also called columella....
.
Course
The descending palatine arteryDescending 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...
branches off of the maxillary artery in the pterygopalatine fossa
Pterygopalatine fossa
The pterygopalatine fossa is a fossa in the skull. It is the indented area medial to the pterygomaxillary fissure leading into the sphenopalatine foramen.-Boundaries:It has the following boundaries:...
and descends through the greater palatine canal
Greater palatine canal
The greater palatine canal is a passage in the skull that transmits the greater palatine artery, vein, and nerve between the pterygopalatine fossa and the oral cavity.-Structure:...
along with the greater palatine nerve
Greater palatine nerve
The greater palatine nerve is a branch of the pterygopalatine ganglion that carries both general sensory and parasympathetic fibers...
(from the pterygopalatine ganglion
Pterygopalatine ganglion
The pterygopalatine ganglion is a parasympathetic ganglion found in the pterygopalatine fossa. It is one of four parasympathetic ganglia of the head and neck....
). Once emerging from the greater palatine foramen
Greater palatine foramen
At either posterior angle of the hard palate is the greater palatine foramen, for the transmission of the descending palatine vessels and anterior palatine nerve; and running anteriorly and medially from it is a groove, for the same vessels and nerve.- Variations :The greater palatine foramen is...
, it changes names to the greater palatine artery and begins to supply 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....
. As it terminates it travels through the incisive canal to anastomose with the sphenopalatine artery
Sphenopalatine artery
The sphenopalatine artery is an artery of the head, commonly known as the artery of epistaxis.-Course:The sphenopalatine artery is a branch of the maxillary artery which passes through the sphenopalatine foramen into the cavity of the nose, at the back part of the superior meatus...
to supply the nasal septum
Nasal septum
The nasal septum separates the left and right airways in the nose, dividing the two nostrils.It is depressed by the Depressor septi nasi muscle.-Composition:The fleshy external end of the nasal septum is sometimes also called columella....
.