A. Paired bones of the facial bones

6. Palatine

The palatine bone forms the caudal part of the hard palate. It is divided into horizontal and perpendicular laminae. Each horizontal lamina has two surfaces, palatine and nasal. Running through the palatine bone is the palatine canal, which provides passage for the major palatine artery, vein and nerve. The palatine canal begins at the caudal palatine foramen in the pterygopalatine fossa and terminates in the hard palate through the major and minor palatine foramina.

The perpendicular lamina forms the medial wall of the pterygopalatine fossa and the lateral wall of the nasopharyngeal meatus.