Relative Anatomical Position of Greater Palatine Foramen with Reference to Intraoral Landmarks in South Indian Population

Address for Correspondence: Mr. P. Murali, Assistant Professor, Department of Anatomy, SRM Medical College Hospital and Research Centre, SRM University, Kattankulathur, Tamilnadu,India. E-Mail: [email protected] 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.