Morphometric analysis of Greater Palatine Foramen

AIM: To study about MORPHOMETRIC analysis of greater palatine foramen in human dry skulls. MATERIALS AND METHOD: Skulls, survey sheet.40 unsexed human dry skulls. Measurements using vernier calliper. BACKGROUND: At either posterior angle of the hard palate is the greater palatine foramen, for the transmission of the descending palatine vessels and greater palatine nerve; and running anteriorly (forward) and medially from it is a groove, for the same vessels and nerve. The greater palatine foramen is important for maxillofacial surgery and for local anesthesia. The shape of the foramen is elongated antero-posteriorly; however, an unusually crescent shaped foramen is rare. REASON FOR RESEARCH: The greater palatine nerve supplies the gums, the mucous membrane and glands of the hard palate, and communicates in front with the terminal filaments of the nasopalatine nerve. Hence this is essential for surgeons and radiologists .