Nasopalatine nerve

Nasopalatine nerve
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
FromMaxillary nerve, pterygopalatine ganglion
InnervatesPalate, nasal septum
Identifiers
Latinnervus nasopalatinus
TA98A14.2.01.043
TA26221
FMA52797
Anatomical terms of neuroanatomy

The nasopalatine nerve (also long sphenopalatine nerve[1]: 496 ) is a nerve of the head. It is a sensory branch of the maxillary nerve (CN V2) that passes through the pterygopalatine ganglion (without synapsing) and then through the sphenopalatine foramen to enter the nasal cavity, and finally out of the nasal cavity through the incisive canal and then the incisive fossa to enter the hard palate. It provides sensory innervation to the posteroinferior part of the nasal septum, and gingiva just posterior to the upper incisor teeth.[1]: 496 

The nasopalatine nerve is the largest of the medial posterior superior nasal nerves.[1]: 370 

Structure

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[3] below the orifice of the sphenoidal sinus to reach the[4][better source needed] posterior part of[2] the nasal septum.[4][better source needed] 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.[4][better source needed] 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 provides sensory innervation to the posteroinferior portion of the nasal septum,[1]: 496  and the anterior-most portion of the hard palate[1]: 370  (i.e. the gingiva[1]: 496 /mucous membrane of the palate[citation needed] just posterior to the upper incisors[1]: 496 ).

Communications

The nasopalatine nerve communicates with the corresponding nerve of the opposite side and with the greater palatine nerve.[citation needed]

Clinical significance

The nasopalatine nerve may be anaesthetised in order to perform surgery on the hard palate or the soft palate.[5]

History

The nasopalatine nerve was first identified by Domenico Cotugno.

Additional images

  • Base of skull. Inferior surface.
    Base of skull. Inferior surface.

See also

References

Public domain This article incorporates text in the public domain from page 893 of the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Sinnatamby, Chummy S. (2011). Last's Anatomy (12th ed.). Elsevier Australia. ISBN 978-0-7295-3752-0.
  2. ^ a b c d Standring, Susan (2020). Gray's Anatomy: The Anatomical Basis of Clinical Practice (42th ed.). New York. ISBN 978-0-7020-7707-4. OCLC 1201341621.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  3. ^ Sinnatamby, Chummy S. (2011). Last's Anatomy (12th ed.). Elsevier Australia. p. 496. ISBN 978-0-7295-3752-0.
  4. ^ a b c 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.
  5. ^ 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.