Eur J Anat, 15 (3): 150-154 (2011)

Assessment of the relative location of greater palatine foramen in adult Indian skulls: Consideration for maxillary nerve block

Ajay Kumar, Anu Sharma, Poonam Singh

Dept. of Anatomy, Dayanand Medical College & Hospital, Ludhiana (Punjab), 141001 India

ABSTRACT Detailed knowledge of the position of the greater palatine foramen (GPF) is important for enhancing the anesthetic injection technique in the posterior palate for optimal pain control in maxillofacial and dental surgeries. The morphometric measurements of GPF along with distances from midline maxillary sutures were recorded, which are helpful for nerve block. The morphometric study was carried out on 100 adult dry human unsexed skulls in the Punjab state. These skulls had fully erupted third molar teeth, and were free of any pathological changes. The measurements were taken with the help of Vernier caliper. The statistical analysis indicated that there were no significant differences in the measurements between the right and left sides with regards to the distances of the GPF to the midline maxillary suture, the GPF to the incisive fossa and the GPF to the posterior border of the hard plate. In 75% of cases, the direction of opening of the GPF into the oral cavity was inferiorly in an anterolateral direction. The most common position of the foramen (85%) was found to be opposite the 3rd maxillary molar. A bilateral bony projection similar to mandibular linguala was observed, extending from the posterior margin of the foramen in one of the 200 separate foramina examined. The bilateral symmetry between the sides of skulls studied was remarkable. Several parameters studied for the GPF and other parameters can provide professionals with anatomical references in order to block the maxillary division of the trigeminal nerve through the GPF.

Keywords: Greater palatine foramen, Hard palate, Skull anatomy, Molar teeth