The course and the branches of the greater palatine nerve on the inferior surface of the hard palate

الملخص EN

The both sides of twenty seven adult human cadavers were dissected to know the course and branches of the greater palatine nerve.

The results showed that the most common course (81.5 %) of the nerve when it was emerged from the greater palatine nerve between the 2nd and 3rd molar teeth about 1 cm superior to the margin of the palatine gingiva; and in 75.9 % cases the nerve was seen divided into large medial and small lateral branches.

The bony palate examination of both sides of twenty three adult dried human skulls showed two grooves on the inferior surface of the palate, and these grooves were converted into unilateral (26.1 %) and bilateral (13.2 %) bony canal.

The present study also noticed a unilateral spine between the grooves in 34.8 % of cases and bilateral spine in 17.4 % cases of the examined skulls.

It is concluded that the dentist has to take these anatomical notes with consider to obtain a successful injection for greater palatine nerve block.