PALATINE BONE: PARTS, FUNCTIONS, PATHOLOGIES - ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY - 2025

The palatine bone is the name given to the bone structure that is above the palate and gives it its shape. Etymologically its name derives from the suffix "ino", which means "proper of"; and the word palatum, which means palate. In conjunction with other bone structures, this bone shapes the face in the human body.

Under normal conditions it is symmetrical and bilateral. The importance of the anatomical knowledge of this structure is that the agenesis or alteration of this can generate serious aesthetic alterations with important psychological repercussions. In addition, it is the anatomical seat of many important vascular and muscular structures for man.

Parts

The palatine bone is a solid bone structure that is closely related to the maxilla and plays a role in shaping the oral cavity.

Two major anatomical landmarks are described in this article, the palatal lamina, a perpendicular lamina and a horizontal lamina.

Horizontal sheet

It has four edges and two faces. It is quadrilateral in shape and constitutes the posterior part of the bony palate. In this sheet are the following parts:

Rear edge

Its posteromedial angle joins the same angle of the same border as the contralateral bone and forms the posterior nasal spine.

Leading edge

It joins the posterior border of the palatal process of the maxilla.

Medial border

It inserts the vomer bone through the nasal crest at the top.

Side edge

Follow the perpendicular sheet.

Nasal face

It is part of the floor of the nasal cavity.

Palatal face

It helps to form the vault of the bone palate.

Perpendicular blade

Like the horizontal sheet, in its constitution it has two faces and four edges.

Maxillary face

In turn, it has three areas: an anterior one, which contributes to the formation of the greater palatine groove; a posterior one, where the pterygoid process articulates; and an intermediate one, which forms the medial wall of the pterygopalatine fossa.

Nasal face

It has two ridges: one called the medial ridge, which articulates with the middle nasal turbinate; and another called turbinal crest or crest of the shell.

Leading edge

It is superimposed on the process of the maxilla

Rear edge

Provides insertion to the soft palate. It articulates with the pterygoid process.

Top edge

It has two processes, in the middle of which is the sphenopalatine notch.

Bottom edge

In its anterior part the minor palatine canals are formed.

Joints

It articulates with 6 bones in total. These include the inferior turbinate, the vomer, the upper jaw, the sphenoid, the ethmoid and the contralateral palatine.

Muscles

The two sheets that make up the palatine bone provide attachment to the following muscles:

Perpendicular lamina muscles

Internal pterygoid muscle

Muscle whose main action is the elevation of the jaw.

External pterygoid muscle

Muscle whose main function is the protrusion of the jaw.

Superior pharynx constrictor muscle

Muscle related to physiological swallowing.

Muscles of the horizontal lamina

Palatostaphylline muscle

In charge of maintaining the tension of the soft palate.

Pharyngostaphillin muscle

The soft palate descends.

External peristaphylline muscle

Traction of the soft palate to one side.

Features

Among the functions of this bone we can describe the following:

- Contribution in the formation of the nostrils.

- Act as a vocal resonance box when speaking.

- Provide symmetry to the face.

- Contribute to the formation of the palatal vault in the oral cavity.

- It is part of the constitution of the orbit and the pterygopalatine fossa.

Pathologies

Palatal bone pathologies are quite frequent. The most prominent are the following:

Palatal cleft

Embryologically, under normal conditions the lateral palatal fissures should fuse with the medial palatal fissures. If this does not occur, it gives rise to a clinical entity known as a cleft palate, where there is an opening in the palate.

These fissures can be incomplete when they only cover the soft palate, or complete when they cover the hard and soft palate. In this disease there is a direct communication between the nose and the mouth.

This disease presents important clinical manifestations that can severely affect the lives of the individuals who suffer from it. Some of its consequences are the following:

- Absence or delay of teething.

- Problems for language development due to alteration of the speech apparatus.

- Feeding problems due to alteration of the chewing apparatus.

- Recurrent infections of the ear and nose, which is a notable problem since other more aggressive and potentially lethal clinical pictures, such as meningitis, could develop during these diseases.

The resolution of this pathology is clearly surgical and must be done early.

Palatine torus

Also called palatal, it is an abnormal bony growth on the surface of the palate, usually in the midline. They are generally no larger than 2 cm.

Its etiology is unknown, but there are hypotheses that argue that it is due to an autosomal dominant defect. However, it has been shown that these buns could be formed by tension on the palate.

Treatment of this pathology is usually expectant, and does not require further follow-up unless the individual requests an extraction of the same by virtue of having a treatment in the mouth.

It has been shown that, in general, the buns can reappear as a consequence of the maintenance of the tension in the mouth.

References

1. Drake RL, Vogl A., Mitchell, AWM GRAY. Anatomy for students + Student Consult. 2011. Elsevier. Madrid. Liñares S.
2. Netter Frank. Head and neck anatomy for dentists.
3. Facial congenital anomalies. Recovered from: ucm.es/
4. Albiso Claudio. Palatine bone and evaluation. Recovered from: medikuenahotsa.com
5. Clinical characterization of cleft lip with cleft palate in Cuba. Recovered from: scielo.sld.cu