Relative Anatomical Position of Greater Palatine Foramen With Reference to Intraoral Landmarks in Southindian Population

Abstract

Background: The Greater Palatine Foramen is of great clinical significance, but the published descriptions about the position of this foramen in the adult human skulls have not been consistently reported. An understanding of the position of Greater Palatine Foramen in relation to adjacent anatomical land mark is important, as this foramen forms a precise site for injection of local anaesthetics to obtain optimal pain control in Dental surgeries. Materials and Methods: The present study was conducted in 137 dry adult unsexed south Indian skulls obtained from the Department of Anatomy, SRM Medical College Hospital and Research Centre, Tamilnadu. All the skulls studied were normal with fully erupted third molar and free from any pathological changes. We have measured the different parameters in each bone, following the Standard Methodology. Results: In our study we found that the perpendicular distance of the Greater Palatine Foramen to the mid maxillary suture in south Indian skull was about 13.7± 1.13(SD) mm and the distance of Greater Palatine Foramen to the incisive fossa was approximately 36.6± 1.95 (SD) mm. The distance of greater palatine foramen to the posterior border of hard palate was approximately 3.7 ± 0.92(SD) mm. Conclusion: To conclude that our study provides appropriate data about the relative anatomical position of GPF that is essential to achieve successful maxillary nerve block via GPF would be relatively easy and free from any complications.

Anatomical Study on Location of Greater Palatine Foramen in Dried Adult Human Skull: Key to Successful Maxillary Nerve Block

“…In a study by Methrathip et al conducted on Thai skulls it was observed that the same distance less compared to Indian skull with an average of 2.1±1.3 mm. However toget an coclusive finding on racial difference more skulls with different races, ethnic groups and geographical distribution should be studied [16].…”

A cone beam computed tomographic analysis of the greater palatine foramen in a cohort of Sri Lankans

“…6,15 Many studies have also assessed the direction of the orientation of the GPF where a majority was seen directed in an inferior or vertical orientation. 3,14,15 However the orientation of the GPF was not assessed in the current study.…”

“…The opening was in a inferior or vertical direction in a staggering 82% of the skulls. 3,14 A study in a cohort of skulls from a chinese population had revealed that the mean distance of the GPF to the mid-sagittal plane of the hard palate was 16.00 mm, and 4.11 mm to the posterior border of the hard palate. The location of the GPF was commonly seen between the maxillary second and third molars (48%) and lingual to the maxillary third molar (33.5%).…”

Morphometric Study of the Greater Palatine Foramen in the Dried Bones of Eastern India

“…Saralya and Nayak [12] studied 132 skulls in the west side of southern India and inferred that in 49.2% cases the GPF opens antero-medially. Murali et al studied 137 skulls in south India and reported that in 49.7% cases the direction of opening of the GPF is Anteromedial [13]. In both the above studies the skulls were not separately studied for gender variations.…”