Greater Palatine Artery Runs Deep to Greater Palatine Nerve

Objectives: Knowledge of clinical anatomy in the hard palate is critical for oral surgery. The course and distribution of the greater palatine artery however has not been well studied; in particular the relationship between the greater palatine artery and nerve was not known.

Methods: Arteries and nerves in the hard plate of thirty Japanese cadavers (60 cases) were studied by dissection under stereomicroscopy.

Results: As the greater palatine arteries run forward, they were found deep to the greater palatine nerve in all 60 cases. We observed that the greater palatine artery gave two branches in 50 cases (83 %) and one main branch in 10 cases (17 %).

Conclusion: Based on these findings, practitioners should be very careful during implant, periodontal and other surgeries.