الفهرس 
Aim of the WorkOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
 |  | from | 139 |  |  |
| | | from | 139 | | |
Abstract
As the hard palate is an essential region of skull so its gross anatomy and morphological variation of its foramina, sutures and the bony prominence have been of interest in many studies.
Also it is important to localize the greater palatine foramen GPF relative to anatomical landmarks as the GPF is of great clinical significance in anesthetic delivery for maxillary nerve block through the greater palatine canal. The success of maxillary nerve block must be based on knowledge of the anatomy of GPF, GPC and PPF.
In this study, 100 skulls of known sex were conducted to many observations and measurements aimed to describe the gross anatomy of the hard palate and its anatomical variations and the anatomical landmarks for localization the GPF.
The following measurements had been taken: palatal length, breadth and height and length and pattern of the palatine sutures; the diameters of the GPF and its shape, the direction of opening of the GPF onto the palate, relation of GPF to the maxillary molar teeth, the distance from the GPF to the midline maxillary suture, to the incisive foramen, to the posterior border of the hard palate and to the tip of the hamular process of the pterygoid. The angle between the axis of the GPC and the hard palate, the length of GPC plus the length of the pterygopalatine fossa, height of maxilla, the diameter and shape of the Incisive foramen. Number of lesser palatine foramina, the percentage of the hard palates with posterior palatine crest, palatal crests, palatal spines and palatal tubercles. If the Palatine torus was present its position, shape and size were recorded. Twenty cadaveric heads were also dissected to measure the thickness of palatal mucosa over the GPF.
Results:
Mean palatal length was 51.65±4.7 mm. palatal breadth was 38.68±2.9 mm with highly significant difference between male and female skulls. Palatal height was 11.8±2.7 mm with no significant difference between both sexes. 64% of the total skulls had narrow palate, 24% intermediate and 12% had wide palate with no significant difference between both genders. 36% have low palate, 56% intermediate and 8% of sample was high-arched palates with significant difference between both genders.
The incisive suture was observed in 2% of skulls. The pattern of the Transverse palatine suture was curved anteriorly in 54%, straight in 25% and intermediate in 21%. The mean length of intermaxillary suture was 26.4± 2.49 mm, interpalatine suture was 15.74± 2.60 mm, median palatine suture was 42.13± 3.12 mm and transverse palatine suture was 33.2±2.49 mm with significant difference between both genders. The palatal processes of maxilla constitute about 63% of bony palate. While the horizontal plate of the palatine bone constitute about 37%, with significant difference between both genders.
The mean anteroposterior and transverse diameters of GPF was 4.86± 0.9 mm and 3.02± 0.7 mm respectively. It was frequently oval opening in 71%, Followed by a rounded opening in 22% and the remaining was lancet and slit. Its direction in 69% was anteromedial, 28% was anterior and 3% was anterolateral. The majority 84% of the total foramina were opposite to the maxillary third molar.
The mean distance from the GPF to the midline maxillary suture was 14.25 ± 1.7 mm, from the GPF to the incisive foramen was 35.93±3.5 mm from the GPF to the posterior border of the hard palate was 3.89±0.9 mm with no significant difference between both sides but it was significant between both sexes. The mean length of GPC and the pterygopalatine fossa was 29.39± 3.1 mm, the height of maxilla was 30.44±3.4 mm with no significant difference between both sides, but the difference between both genders was significant. The angle between greater palatine canal and the horizontal plane of the hard palate was 40.48 ± 9.1̊ with no significant difference between both sides and both genders. The mean thickness of the palatal mucosa over the GPF was 4.92± 1.93 mm.
The course of the longitudinal palatal grooves showing divisions and its associated palatal crests and spines. The hard palate is classified into four types, type 1 (the smooth type) was show in 1% of skulls, type 2 (hard palate with crests) was recorded in 99% of skulls. Type 3 (hard palate with crests and spines) was in 33% and type 4 (hard palate with bridges) was recorded in 3%.
The Palatine torus was recorded in 7% of skulls. The mean of its length was 20.6± 7.8 mm, its width was 10.5± 4.5 mm and its height was 4.1± 1.2mm with no statistical significant difference between both genders. It was located along the mid-sagittal line of the hard palate. Its form was ridge, mound or lump.