The palatine bone is a paired bone of the skull, tucked deep within the facial structure. This small, irregularly shaped bone plays a foundational role in separating major cavities and providing structural stability to the central facial skeleton. It contributes to multiple sensory and functional systems simultaneously.
Where the Palatine Bone is Located
The palatine bone is situated in the posterior region of the nasal cavity, positioned like a buttress between the upper jaw and the base of the skull. It is a paired structure, with mirror-image bones on the left and right sides of the face. These bones are lodged between the maxilla (upper jaw) and the pterygoid process of the sphenoid bone. Its central placement necessitates articulations with six other bones:
- The maxilla
- The sphenoid
- The ethmoid
- The inferior nasal concha
- The vomer
- The opposite palatine bone
This network anchors the palatine bone firmly, providing a structural link that helps define the spatial relationships between the oral cavity, nasal cavity, and eye socket.
Key Structural Components
The structure of the palatine bone resembles the letter ‘L’, formed by two primary bony plates set perpendicularly. The horizontal plate extends medially, meeting the plate from the opposite side at the midline. This fusion creates the posterior quarter of the bony roof of the mouth, known as the hard palate.
The perpendicular plate is the vertical component that projects upward, forming a segment of the lateral wall of the nasal cavity. This plate features a long groove that contributes to the greater palatine canal, a passageway for nerves and blood vessels. Extending from the perpendicular plate are several projections, including the pyramidal process, and the orbital and sphenoidal processes, which are separated by the sphenopalatine notch.
Contribution to Facial Structures
The unique L-shape and strategic location allow the palatine bone to contribute to the formation of three distinct cavities within the skull. The horizontal plates fuse to form the back portion of the hard palate, which serves as the rigid partition between the oral and nasal cavities. This separation is necessary for functions like breathing and chewing to occur independently.
The perpendicular plate forms a significant portion of the lateral wall and the floor of the nasal cavity. It also helps to define the pterygopalatine fossa, a deep space behind the maxilla that serves as a junction box for nerves and blood vessels supplying the face. Additionally, the orbital process forms a minor segment of the floor of the orbit, the bony socket that houses the eye. The bone’s participation in these three areas—oral, nasal, and orbital—highlights its role in the functional integrity of the mid-face.
Clinical Significance
The developmental process of the palatine bone is directly implicated in the congenital condition known as cleft palate. This deformity occurs when the paired horizontal plates fail to properly fuse at the midline during embryonic development, leaving an opening between the mouth and the nasal cavity. The severity of the cleft dictates the extent of surgical repair needed to restore the separation necessary for speech and feeding.
Due to its central position, the palatine bone is frequently involved in complex facial trauma, particularly the high-energy fractures classified as Le Fort fractures. The perpendicular plate, in particular, is often fractured in these traumatic injuries, which can disrupt the structural support of the mid-face. Understanding the bone’s anatomy is also important in surgical procedures, as its foramina—the greater and lesser palatine foramina—transmit nerves and blood vessels to the palate and surrounding structures. Surgeons use the palatine bone and its associated landmarks to navigate endoscopic procedures within the nasal and skull base regions.