Palatine bone

The palatine bone is wedged between the maxilla and the pterygoid process of the sphenoid bone. It connects with a horizontal plate, the horizontal plate to the palatine process of the upper jaw at the back and complements with a vertical plate, the perpendicular plate the lateral nasal wall.

Illustration

Horizontal plate

The following anatomical structures are found on the horizontal plate:

Nasal crest

The nasal crest is a bony ridge to which the median palatine suture rises dorsally.

Posterior nasal spine

The posterior nasal spine is also known as the posterior nasal spine and is the continuation of the nasal crest.

Perpendicular plate

The perpendicular plate is a thin vertically standing plate of the palatine bone and attaches anteriorly to the maxilla, covering part of the opening of the maxillary sinus where a special bony plate, the maxillary process, overhangs the edge of the opening. Posteriorly, the perpendicular plate attaches to the pterygoid process of the sphenoid bone.

Conchal crest

The conchal crest is a horizontal ledge on the inner surface facing the nasal cavity for the attachment of the inferior nasal concha.

Ethmoid crest

The ethmoid crest lies above the conchal crest and serves as an attachment for the middle nasal concha.

Sphenopalatine notch

The sphenopalatine notch is a notch on the upper edge of the perpendicular plate, which is closed by the body of the sphenoid bone to the sphenopalatine foramen.

Greater palatine groove

The greater palatine groove is a longitudinal groove on the outer surface of the perpendicular plate.

Greater palatine canal

The greater palatine groove is closed by the maxilla and the pterygoid process to form the greater palatine canal. This ascends on the outer surface of the perpendicular plate and opens at the palate with the greater palatine foramen. The lesser palatine canals branch from it and pass through the pyramidal process, opening at its basal surface with the lesser palatine foramina[^1].

Pyramidal process

The pyramidal process extends posteriorly and downwards, attaching to the posterior end of the alveolar process and the sphenoid, assisting in forming the pterygoid fossa. It is pierced by the lesser palatine canals which end in the lesser palatine foramina.

Orbital process

The orbital process is directed forward and somewhat laterally and interposes between the maxilla, ethmoid, and the body of the sphenoid. The part facing the ethmoid is hollowed to cover an ethmoid cell. One surface reaches the orbit at its posterior medial corner, and another faces the pterygopalatine fossa.

Sphenoid process

The posterior process lies behind the sphenopalatine notch and attaches to the underside of the body of the sphenoid.