Greater palatine artery

At a glance

English

Greater palatine artery

Latin (TA2)

Arteria palatina major

System

Artery

Region

Head

Side

Paired, left and right

About the greater palatine artery

The greater palatine artery is the main artery of the hard palate. It is the larger of the two end branches that the descending palatine artery gives, which leaves the maxillary artery's third part within the pterygopalatine fossa. The parent vessel runs down the greater palatine canal with the greater palatine nerve; when it comes out through the greater palatine foramen onto the roof of the mouth, it takes the name greater palatine artery.

The foramen lies at the back corner of the hard palate, near the third molar, between the palatine bone and the maxilla. From there the artery runs forwards in a shallow groove on the underside of the palate, close to the inner side of the alveolar process and the roots of the teeth. The greater palatine nerve runs with it, and the pair lie in the thick mucoperiosteum that covers the bony palate. Near the front of the palate the artery reaches the incisive canal, behind the central incisors. Its terminal branch passes upwards through this canal into the floor of the nose, where it joins a septal branch of the sphenopalatine artery.

Along its length it supplies the mucous membrane and the many small palatine glands of the hard palate, and the gums on the palatal side of the upper teeth, including the bone around them. Its terminal part also helps feed the lower front of the nasal septum, a region where several arteries meet and a common source of nosebleeds.

Its position matters in dental and oral surgery. Tissue for gum grafts is usually taken from the palate in front of the molars, and the depth of the artery must be judged to avoid heavy bleeding. Flaps of palatal tissue for cleft repair or to close holes into the sinus are planned around it, often keeping it as their blood supply. Local anaesthetic injected at the greater palatine foramen blocks the companion nerve and numbs the palatal gums from the molars to the canine.

Course and supply

Arises from

Continuation of the descending palatine artery as it emerges from the greater palatine foramen.

Ends in

Ends by rising through the incisive canal to meet the septal branch of the sphenopalatine artery.

Supplies

Supplies the mucosa, glands and palatal gums of the hard palate and contributes to the front of the nasal septum.