The palatine bone is situated at the back of the nasal cavity between the maxilla and sphenoid. It contributes to the walls of the nasal cavity, roof of the mouth, and floor of the orbit. The palatine bone articulates with six other bones and consists of a horizontal plate that forms the posterior hard palate and a perpendicular plate with processes that connect to surrounding bones. The palatine bone supplements the maxilla and connects it to the sphenoid bone.

1. Palatine bonePalatine bone
**Palatine bone is situated at the back part of**Palatine bone is situated at the back part of
thethe nasal cavitynasal cavity between thebetween the maxillamaxilla and theand the
pterygoid process of thepterygoid process of the sphenoidsphenoid..
**Palatine bone contributes to the walls of three**Palatine bone contributes to the walls of three
cavities:- 1]cavities:- 1] The floor and lateral wall of theThe floor and lateral wall of the
nasal cavitynasal cavity; 2]; 2] The roof of the mouthThe roof of the mouth, and, and
3]3] The floor of the orbitThe floor of the orbit..
**Palatine bone enters into the formation of two**Palatine bone enters into the formation of two
fossæ, thefossæ, the pterygopalatinepterygopalatine andand pterygoidpterygoid fossæfossæ;;
and one fissure, theand one fissure, the inferior orbital fissureinferior orbital fissure..

2.  The palatine bone somewhat resemblesThe palatine bone somewhat resembles
the letter L, and consists of athe letter L, and consists of a
Horizontal plate of palatine boneHorizontal plate of palatine bone and aand a
Perpendicular plate of palatine bonePerpendicular plate of palatine bone andand
three outstanding processes—viz., thethree outstanding processes—viz., the
Pyramidal process of palatine bonePyramidal process of palatine bone, which, which
is directed backward and lateralward fromis directed backward and lateralward from
the junction of the two parts, and thethe junction of the two parts, and the
Orbital process of palatine boneOrbital process of palatine bone andand
Sphenoidal process of palatine bone,Sphenoidal process of palatine bone,
which surmount the vertical part, and arewhich surmount the vertical part, and are
separated by a deep notch, theseparated by a deep notch, the

3.  The human palatine articulates with six bones:The human palatine articulates with six bones:
thethe sphenoidsphenoid,, ethmoidethmoid,, maxilla, inferior nasalmaxilla, inferior nasal
concha, vomer andconcha, vomer and opposite palatine boneopposite palatine bone..
Superiorly
rotated
cut surface of
maxilla
Palatine bone Bilateral palatine bones

4. Horizontal process of
palatine bone with its
rough oral surface
Bilateral palatine bones viewed from posterior aspect
Pyramidal process
A large
Posterior
Orbital
process
A small anterior
Orbital process
Conchal
Crest for
Inferior
concha

6. BONY ORBIT RIGHT SIDE

8. Frontal bone forming upper portion of bony orbit
Maxilla & infraorbital foramen
Zygoma bone
Zygomatic arch
Temporal
bone
Parietal bone
Greater wing
Of sphenoid
bone
Optic foramen
in lesser wing
of sphenoid
bone
Orbital plate of
Ethmoid bone
Lacrimal bone
Orbital portion of
Palatine bone
( small white)
Nasal bone

9. Palatal view of maxillary bone
Here the horizontal process of palatine bone is attached

10. Posterior portion of palate formed by horizontal plate
of palatine bone
Greater palatine foramen formed by notches in posterolat-
-eral area of palatal process of maxilla & corresponding
area of horizontal Plate of palatine bone
Lesser
Palatine
Foramen in
pyramidal
Process of
Palatine
bone
Concave
Posterior
Border of
Horizontal
Plate of
Palatine
bone

11. Palatine bone supplements the maxilla &Palatine bone supplements the maxilla &
furnishes the link between the maxilla &furnishes the link between the maxilla &
the sphenoid bone. It consists of a 1]the sphenoid bone. It consists of a 1]
horizontal platehorizontal plate & a 2]& a 2] vertical platevertical plate joinedjoined
at right angle.at right angle.
1] The horizontal plate, with its smooth1] The horizontal plate, with its smooth
sup--erior or nasal surface & its roughsup--erior or nasal surface & its rough
inferior or oral surface, forms theinferior or oral surface, forms the
posterior part of the hard palate. Itsposterior part of the hard palate. Its
anterior beveled border overlaps theanterior beveled border overlaps the
palatine process of the maxilla in thepalatine process of the maxilla in the
transverse palatine suture. The medialtransverse palatine suture. The medial
border connects with the palatine bone ofborder connects with the palatine bone of
the other side in the median orthe other side in the median or
interpalatine suture, which is ainterpalatine suture, which is a

12. continuation of the intermaxillary suture.continuation of the intermaxillary suture.
At its nasal surface theAt its nasal surface the medial border ismedial border is
elevated to a sharp crest that continueselevated to a sharp crest that continues
with that of the other side, the nasal crestwith that of the other side, the nasal crest
of the maxillary bones. The posteriorof the maxillary bones. The posterior
border of the horizontal palate is concaveborder of the horizontal palate is concave
& terminates in a sharp spine that forms,& terminates in a sharp spine that forms,
in conjunction with that of thein conjunction with that of the
contralateral bone,contralateral bone, the posterior nasalthe posterior nasal
spinespine. In front of the posterior border, the. In front of the posterior border, the
oral surface of the horizontal plate is oftenoral surface of the horizontal plate is often
elevated as a sharp transverse ridge –elevated as a sharp transverse ridge – thethe
palatine crestpalatine crest. The lateral border between. The lateral border between
hoizontal & vertical plates, is connectedhoizontal & vertical plates, is connected
with the medial surface of the maxilla atwith the medial surface of the maxilla at

13. the level between body & alveolar process.the level between body & alveolar process.
This border is cut near its anterior end byThis border is cut near its anterior end by
a notch that completes a similar notch ina notch that completes a similar notch in
the maxilla to form thethe maxilla to form the major palatinemajor palatine
foramen ( Greater palatine foramen)foramen ( Greater palatine foramen)..
2] The vertical plate of palatine bone is2] The vertical plate of palatine bone is
almost twice as high as it is wide. Its upperalmost twice as high as it is wide. Its upper
border is divided by the deepborder is divided by the deep
sphenopalat--ine notchsphenopalat--ine notch into twointo two
processes, a large anteriorprocesses, a large anterior orbital processorbital process
& a small posterior& a small posterior sphenoid processsphenoid process. The. The
greater part of the vertical lamella is ingreater part of the vertical lamella is in
contact with the inner surface of thecontact with the inner surface of the
maxillary body posterior to the opening ofmaxillary body posterior to the opening of
the maxillary sinus. A tongue likethe maxillary sinus. A tongue like

14. process of the vertical lamella, arising inprocess of the vertical lamella, arising in
the inferior part of the anterior border,the inferior part of the anterior border,
closes the posteroinferior part of thecloses the posteroinferior part of the
maxillary hiatus, thus narrowing itmaxillary hiatus, thus narrowing it
considerably. On the outer surface of theconsiderably. On the outer surface of the
vertical plate a sulcus begins below thevertical plate a sulcus begins below the
sphenopalatine notch & ends at the notchsphenopalatine notch & ends at the notch
of the major palatine foramen. Thisof the major palatine foramen. This
sulcus, the pterygopalatine groove, fits tosulcus, the pterygopalatine groove, fits to
the pterygopalatine groove of the maxillathe pterygopalatine groove of the maxilla
& thus completes the wall of the& thus completes the wall of the
pterygopalatine canalpterygopalatine canal. Above this sulcus &. Above this sulcus &
around the palatine notch the lateralaround the palatine notch the lateral
surface of the vertical plate of the palatinesurface of the vertical plate of the palatine
bone is smooth & forms the inner wallbone is smooth & forms the inner wall

15. of the pterygopalatine fossa. The sphenoidof the pterygopalatine fossa. The sphenoid
process behind the sphenopalatine notchprocess behind the sphenopalatine notch
joins the sphenoid body. Thejoins the sphenoid body. The orbitalorbital
processprocess fits on to the posterosuperiorfits on to the posterosuperior
corner of the maxillary body. It completescorner of the maxillary body. It completes
the orbital surface of the maxilla on itsthe orbital surface of the maxilla on its
posterior corner. The orbital process isposterior corner. The orbital process is
often hollowed out by shallow fovae thatoften hollowed out by shallow fovae that
closes a posteroinferior ethmoid cell.closes a posteroinferior ethmoid cell.
behind this fovae the orbital process isbehind this fovae the orbital process is
connected to the anterior surface of theconnected to the anterior surface of the
sphenoid body. Since both the orbital &sphenoid body. Since both the orbital &
sphenoid processes joined to the sphenoidsphenoid processes joined to the sphenoid

16. bone above, the notch between thesebone above, the notch between these
processes is closed by the body ofprocesses is closed by the body of
Sphenoid to form theSphenoid to form the sphenopalatinesphenopalatine
foramen – a communication betweenforamen – a communication between
pterygopalatine fossa & nasal cavity.pterygopalatine fossa & nasal cavity.
The medial or nasal surface of the verticalThe medial or nasal surface of the vertical
plate is generally smooth. At the borderplate is generally smooth. At the border
between the inferior third & middle thirdbetween the inferior third & middle third
it is traversed by a sharp horizontal ridge,it is traversed by a sharp horizontal ridge,
thethe conchal crestconchal crest, which serves as the, which serves as the
attachment of theattachment of the inferior conchainferior concha..
Near its base the orbital process is crossedNear its base the orbital process is crossed
by another horizontal rough line- theby another horizontal rough line- the

17. ethmoid crestethmoid crest, to which the posterior end, to which the posterior end
of theof the middle nasal concha of the ethmoidmiddle nasal concha of the ethmoid
bonebone is joined.is joined. From the junction of theFrom the junction of the
vertical & horizontal plates at thevertical & horizontal plates at the
postero--lateral corner of the palatinepostero--lateral corner of the palatine
bone, the short, stoutbone, the short, stout pyramidal processpyramidal process
arises. It serves as a firm anchorage of thearises. It serves as a firm anchorage of the
maxillo--palatine complex to the lowermaxillo--palatine complex to the lower
end of theend of the pterygoid process of thepterygoid process of the
sphenoid bonesphenoid bone. The pyramidal process. The pyramidal process
fills the pterygoid notch between thefills the pterygoid notch between the
medial & lateral pterygoid plates, whichmedial & lateral pterygoid plates, which
themselves fits into grooves at thethemselves fits into grooves at the

18. the pyramidal process. The lower surfacethe pyramidal process. The lower surface
of the pyramidal process continues theof the pyramidal process continues the
oral surface of the horizontal palatineoral surface of the horizontal palatine
plate at the posterolateral corner justplate at the posterolateral corner just
behind the greater palatine foramen.behind the greater palatine foramen.
Medially & behind this foramen theMedially & behind this foramen the
process carries a variably developed sharpprocess carries a variably developed sharp
crest. Behind the greater palatine foramencrest. Behind the greater palatine foramen
are one or two or sometimes three, smallerare one or two or sometimes three, smaller
openings (openings (the lesser palatine foraminathe lesser palatine foramina), at), at
which the narrow canals open that branchwhich the narrow canals open that branch
from the pterygopalatine canal & perforatefrom the pterygopalatine canal & perforate
the pyramidal process.the pyramidal process.
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