Lesser palatine nerves
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At the time the article was created Shi Hong Shen had no recorded disclosures.
View Shi Hong Shen's current disclosuresAt the time the article was last revised Jordan Southi had no financial relationships to ineligible companies to disclose.
View Jordan Southi's current disclosures- posterior palatine nerve
The lesser palatine nerves (or posterior palatine nerves) are a group of 2 to 3 nerves (usually 2 nerves) that arise off the maxillary division of the trigeminal nerve and contributes to the pterygopalatine ganglion.
Gross anatomy
The lesser palatine nerves divide off the maxillary division just after emerging from the foramen rotundum to enter the pterygopalatine fossa. At the pterygopalatine ganglion the nerves receive parasympathetic fibers that supply palatine mucosal glands as well as special sensory fibers (taste) which arrive at the ganglia via the greater petrosal nerve.
They leave the fossa inferiorly through the lesser palatine canal, posterior to the greater palatine canal (although some authors describe the lesser palatine canal arising from the greater palatine canal). The nerves then emerge on the hard palate through the lesser palatine foramen behind the pyramidal process of the palatine bone. They supply the mucosa of the uvula, soft palate and palatine tonsil.
References
- 1. DSc SSP. Gray's Anatomy. Churchill Livingstone. (2011) ISBN:0443066841. Read it at Google Books - Find it at Amazon
- 2. Robert H. Whitaker, Neil R. Borley. Instant Anatomy. ISBN: 9780632054039
- 3. Last's anatomy, regional and applied. Churchill Livingstone. ISBN:044304662X. Read it at Google Books - Find it at Amazon
- 4. Moore KL, Agur AMR, Dalley AF. Clinically oriented anatomy. LWW. ISBN:1451119453. Read it at Google Books - Find it at Amazon
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