HARD PALATE

HARD PALATE
- boundaries
  - anterior 2/3 formed
    - palatine process of maxilla
  - posterior 1/3 formed by
    - horizontal plates of palatine bone
  - anterolateral margins
    - continuous with alveolar arches and gums
  - posterior margin
    - attachment to soft palate
  - Superior surface
    - floor of nose
  - Inferior surface
    - Roof of oral cavity
- arterial supply
  - greater palatine branch of maxillary artery
- Venous drainage
  - drain in to pterygoid plexus of veins
- Nerves
  - Greater palatine and nasopalatine branches of pterygopalatine ganglion
- Lymphatics
  - Lymphatics drain mostly to the upper deep cervical nodes
  - partly to retropharyngeal nodes