Nasopalatine nerve
The nasopalatine nerve (long sphenopalatine nerve) is a nerve of the head. It is a branch of the pterygopalatine ganglion, a continuation from the maxillary nerve (V2). It supplies parts of the palate and nasal septum.
Nasopalatine nerve | |
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![]() Nerves of septum of nose, right side. (Nasopalatine is lower yellow line.) | |
![]() The sphenopalatine ganglion and its branches. (Termination of nasopalatine nerve labeled at bottom left.) | |
Details | |
From | maxillary nerve, pterygopalatine ganglion |
Innervates | palate, nasal septum |
Identifiers | |
Latin | nervus nasopalatinus |
TA98 | A14.2.01.043 |
TA2 | 6221 |
FMA | 52797 |
Anatomical terms of neuroanatomy |
Structure
The nasopalatine nerve communicates with the corresponding nerve of the opposite side and with the greater palatine nerve. The medial superior posterior nasal branches of the maxillary nerve usually branch from the nasopalatine nerve.
Origin
The nasopalatine nerve is a branch of the pterygopalatine ganglion, a continuation from the maxillary nerve (V2), itself a branch of the trigeminal nerve.[1]
Course
It exits the pterygopalatine fossa through the sphenopalatine foramen to enter the nasal cavity.[2] It passes across the roof of the nasal cavity below the orifice of the sphenoidal sinus to reach the[1] posterior part of[2] the nasal septum.[1] It passes anteroinferiorly upon the nasal septum along a groove upon the vomer,[2] running between the periosteum and mucous membrane of the lower part of the nasal septum.[1] It then passes through the hard palate by descending through the incisive canal to reach the roof of the mouth.[2]
Distribution
The nasopalatine nerve supplies the anterior-most portion of the palate (the mucous membrane of the palate just posterior to the upper incisors), as well as the posteroinferior portion of the nasal septum.[3]
Clinical significance
The nasopalatine nerve may be anaesthetised in order to performs surgery on the hard palate or the soft palate.[4]
History
The nasopalatine nerve was first identified by Domenico Cotugno.
Additional images
- Base of skull. Inferior surface.
See also
References
This article incorporates text in the public domain from page 893 of the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)
- Langford, R. J. (1 October 1989). "The contribution of the nasopalatine nerve to sensation of the hard palate". British Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. 27 (5): 379–386. doi:10.1016/0266-4356(89)90077-6. ISSN 0266-4356. PMID 2804040.
- Standring, Susan (2020). Gray's Anatomy: The Anatomical Basis of Clinical Practice (42th ed.). New York. p. 683. ISBN 978-0-7020-7707-4. OCLC 1201341621.
- Chummy S. Sinnatamby (2011). Last's anatomy: regional and applied (12th ed.). Edinburgh. ISBN 978-0-7020-4839-5. OCLC 764565702.
- Lassemi, E.; Motamedi, M. H. K.; Jafari, S. M.; Talesh, K. T.; Navi, F. (November 2008). "Anaesthetic efficacy of a labial infiltration method on the nasopalatine nerve". British Dental Journal. 205 (10): E21. doi:10.1038/sj.bdj.2008.872. ISSN 1476-5373. PMID 18833207. S2CID 22231341.
External links
- MedEd at Loyola GrossAnatomy/h_n/cn/cn1/cnb2.htm
- lesson9 at The Anatomy Lesson by Wesley Norman (Georgetown University) (nasalseptumner)
- Diagram 1 at adi-visuals.com
- Diagram 2 at adi-visuals.com