A Study of the Anatomical Variations in the number and Location of Palatine Foramina among Egyptian Population A Dry Bone and Radiological Study

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Anatomy, Faculty of medicine, Cairo university, Cairo, Egypt

2 Radiology, Faculty of medicine, Cairo university, Cairo, Egypt

3 Anatomy, faculty of medicine, Cairo university, Cairo, Egypt

Abstract

The hard palate is an essential region of the skull; its gross anatomy and morphological variations have been of interest in many studies. The bones and dental structures of the palate are often preserved even in case of serious damage at or following death. The hard palate presents many important features including the greater and lesser palatine foramina. Locating the greater palatine foramen (GPF) is of paramount importance for dentists, oral and maxillofacial surgeons.
The present work was designed to locate the greater palatine foramen in relation to specific anatomical landmarks, assess the number of lesser palatine foramina (LPF) and estimate the direction of greater palatine canal in dry skulls and CT scans.
The present work was carried out on 30 dry skulls and 200 CT scans of brain and paranasal sinuses. It was designed to demonstrate the location of GPF in relation to specific surrounding anatomical landmarks being of paramount importance for both dentists, oral and maxillofacial surgeons. 
Variation in the location of GPF is remarkably common. Regarding linear measurements, no statistically significant difference existed between sides, but a statistically highly significant difference existed between males and females. Regarding the position of GPF in relation to maxillary molar teeth, the most frequent location was opposite the third maxillary molar (50% of dry skulls and 41% of CT scans). The direction of the greater palatine canal (GPC) was elucidated only in dry skulls, and in individual specimen the same direction was encountered on both sides.

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