Nerves of the Palate

• The sensory nerves of the palate, which are branches of the pterygopalatine ganglion, are the greater and lesser palatine nerves.
• They accompany the arteries through the greater and lesser palatine foramina, respectively.

• The greater palatine nerve supplies the gingivae, mucous membrane, and glands of the hard palate.

• The lesser palatine nerve supplies the soft palate.

• Another branch of the pterygopalatine ganglion, the nasopalatine nerve, emerges from the incisive foramen and supplies the mucous membrane of the anterior part of the hard palate.

The Palate

• The palate forms the arched roof of the mouth and the floor of the nasal cavities.
• The palate consists of two regions: the anterior 2/3 or bony part, called the hard palate, and the mobile posterior 1/3 or fibromuscular part, known as the soft palate.

The Hard Palate

• The anterior bony part of the palate is formed by the palatine process of the maxillae and the horizontal plates of the palatine bones.

• Anteriorly and laterally, the hard palate is bounded by the alveolar processes and the gingivae.
• Posteriorly, the hard palate is continuous with the soft palate.

• The incisive foramen is the mouth of the incisive canal.
• This foramen is located posterior to the maxillary central incisor teeth.
• This foramen is the common opening for the right and left incisive canals.
• The incisive canal and foramen transmit the nasopalatine nerve and the terminal branches of the sphenopalatine artery.

• Medial to the third molar tooth, the greater palatine foramen pierces the lateral border of the bony palate.
• The greater palatine vessels and nerve emerge from this foramen and run anteriorly into two grooves on the palate.

• The lesser palatine foramen transmits the lesser palatine nerve and vessels.
• This runs to the soft palate and adjacent structures.

The Eye and Orbit

• The orbit (eye socket) appears as a bony recess in the skull when it is viewed from anteriorly.
• It almost surrounds the eye and their associated muscles, nerves and vessels, together with the lacrimal apparatus.

• The orbit is shaped somewhat like a four-side pyramid lying on its side, with its apex pointing posteriorly and its base anteriorly.

The Soft Palate

• This is the posterior curtain-like part, and has no bony support. It does, however, contain a membranous aponeurosis.
• The soft palate, or velum palatinum (L. velum, veil), is a movable, fibromuscular fold that is attached to the posterior edge of the hard palate.
• It extends posteroinferiorly to a curved free margin from which hangs a conical process, the uvula (L. uva, grape).

• The soft palate separates the nasopharynx superiorly and the oropharynx inferiorly.

• During swallowing the soft palate moves posteriorly against the wall of the pharynx, preventing the regurgitation of food into the nasal cavity.

• Laterally, the soft palate is continuous with the wall of the pharynx and is joined to the tongue and pharynx by the palatoglossal and palatopharyngeal folds.

• The soft palate is strengthened by the palatine aponeurosis, formed by the expanded tendon of the tensor veli palatini muscle.
• This aponeurosis attaches to the posterior margin of the hard palate.

The Ear

• The ear contains the vestibulocochlear organ and consists of three main parts: external, middle, and internal.
• It has two functions, balance and hearing.

• The tympanic membrane (eardrum) separates the external ear from the middle ear.
• The auditory tube joins the middle ear or tympanic cavity to the nasopharynx.

Movements of the Temporomandibular Joint

• The two movements that occur at this joint are anterior gliding and a hinge-like rotation.
• When the mandible is depressed during opening of the mouth, the head of the mandible and articular disc move anteriorly on the articular surface until the head lies inferior to the articular tubercle.

• As this anterior gliding occurs, the head of the mandible rotates on the inferior surface of the articular disc.
• This permits simple chewing or grinding movements over a small range.

• Movements that are seen in this joint are: depression, elevation, protrusion, retraction and grinding