The palatine bone is a paired L-shaped bone. Its horizontal plate forms the posterior one-third of the hard palate, and its perpendicular plate forms part of the lateral wall of the nasal cavity. Small processes reach the orbital floor (orbital process), the sphenoid (sphenoidal process) and the gap between the pterygoid plates (pyramidal process). The greater palatine foramen, between the palatine bone and the maxilla near the third molar, transmits the greater palatine nerve and vessels.
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| Ossification | Membranous ossification from a single centre at week 8 of fetal development. |
The palatine bone is involved in Le Fort midface fractures and sagittal palatal fractures that widen the dental arch. The greater palatine foramen, palpable as a soft spot medial to the upper third molar, is the injection site for the greater palatine nerve block that anaesthetises the posterior hard palate and palatal gingiva. Cleft palate results from failed fusion of the palatal shelves, and palatoplasty is usually performed in infancy (around 9 to 18 months) to support speech development. Nasopharyngeal and sinonasal tumours can spread along the palatine canals to the pterygopalatine fossa.
Palatal fractures occur with Le Fort midface injuries, widening the dental arch and causing malocclusion; they often need fixation to restore palatal width.
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