title: Topographical relationship of the greater palatine artery and the palatal spine. Significance for periodontal surgery.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aims of this study were to (1) identify the branching pattern and course of the greater palatine artery (GPA), (2) carry out a morphological analysis of the palatal bony prominence that divides the medial and lateral grooves and (3) characterize the topographical relationships between these two structures.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-six hemimaxillae were studied with the aid of a surgical microscope to elucidate the GPA. A further 25 dry skulls were examined to establish the morphology of the palatal spine.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The most common GPA branching pattern was type I (41.7%, 15 sides), which gave off the medial and canine branches after the bony prominence. The distances from the CEJ to the lateral branch of the GPA were 9.04 ± 2.93 mm (canine), 11.12 ± 1.89 mm (first premolar), 13.51 ± 2.08 mm (second premolar), 13.76 ± 2.86 mm (first molar) and 13.91 ± 2.20 mm (second molar). The palatal spine was frequently observed as the bony prominence (66.3%, 57 sides), and was located at 6.49 ± 1.76 mm from the greater palatine foramen, with a length of 10.42 ± 2.45 mm. There was no a correlation between the bony prominence shape and the GPA branching pattern.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results could provide the reference data regarding the topography of the GPA for periodontal surgery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy and Orofacial Development, School of Dentistry, Chosun University, Gwangju, Korea.
authors.forename: Sun-Kyoung
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Myoung-Hwa
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Byung Sun
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Yong Hyun
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Jeon
authors.forename: Yoon Young
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: Heung-Joong
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001158:Arteries / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D001641:Bicuspid / Q000098:blood supply; D002102:Cadaver; D002508:Cephalometry / Q000379:methods; D003481:Cuspid / Q000098:blood supply; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008437:Maxilla / Q000098:blood supply; D008438:Maxillary Artery / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D008875:Middle Aged; D008963:Molar / Q000098:blood supply; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000098:blood supply / Q000294:innervation; D021362:Palate, Hard / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000294:innervation; D010519:Periodontium / Q000601:surgery; D019237:Tooth Cervix / Q000098:blood supply
keywords: greater palatine artery; lateral groove; palatal spine; periodontal surgery