What Structures Pass Through Incisive Canals?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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The incisive canal, also known as the nasopalatine canal, is an interosseous conduit through

the anterior maxilla connecting the oral and nasal cavities

. Within this canal lies the nasopalatine nerve and the vascular anastomosis between the greater palatine and sphenopalatine arteries.

What travels through incisive canal?

The maxillary incisive canal runs through the maxilla in the midline. It connects the inferior nasal cavity with the superior oral cavity, opening at the incisive foramen posterior to the central maxillary incisor teeth. It contains the

descending palatine artery and the nasopalatine nerve

.

What does the incisive foramen transmit?

It can be single or multiple. It transmits

the greater palatine artery and vein from the oral

to the nasal cavity and the nasopalatine nerve in the opposite direction.

Which nerve passes through the incisive foramen?

The incisive foramen is the exit site of the nasopalatine canal where the terminal branch of the descending palatine artery and

nasopalatine nerve

pass into the oral cavity.

What does the incisive nerve innervate?

The incisive nerve continues within the mandibular canal, innervating the mandibular first premolar, canine, incisors, and associated gingivae, while the mental nerve exits the mandibular canal via the mental foramen to innervate

the lower lip and chin

.

Where is the Palatine process?

The palatine process (Processus palatinus) of

the maxilla

is a strong bony blade that arises perpendiculary from the nasal surface of the maxilla, near its ventral border; it unites with the palatine process of the opposite maxilla on the median plane through the palatine suture (Sutura palatina).

What is a maxilla?

The maxilla is

the bone that forms your upper jaw

. The right and left halves of the maxilla are irregularly shaped bones that fuse together in the middle of the skull, below the nose, in an area known as the intermaxillary suture. The maxilla is a major bone of the face.

What is foramen rotundum?

The foramen rotundum (plural: foramina rotunda) is

located in the middle cranial fossa

, inferomedial to the superior orbital fissure at the base of greater wing of the sphenoid bone. Its medial border is formed by lateral wall of sphenoid sinus.

What nerve is associated with the maxillary incisive foramen?


The sphenopalatine nerve (a branch of the maxillary nerve V2)

carries post ganglionic parasympathetic fibres from the sphenopalatine ganglion via the foramen into the nasal cavity. It passes down the lateral wall of the septum to reach the upper opening of the incisive foramen.

What passes through the greater palatine foramen?

The greater palatine foramen provides a passage for

the greater palatine nerve

. The lesser palatine nerves pass through the lesser palatine foramina, which are situated just behind the greater palatine foramen (see Fig. 16.5 above).

What teeth does the nasopalatine nerve innervate?

The anterior palatine nerve innervates the gingivae and the structures of the maxillary teeth as far forward as the canines, while the nasopalatine nerve primarily innervates

the mucosa surrounding the incisive papilla and the gingival margins of the maxillary incisors

.

What nerve is near the maxillary tuberosity?


The posterior superior alveolar nerves

are inferiorly oriented near the maxillary tuberosity, where they penetrate the alveolar canals with the posterior superior alveolar artery and send small nerve branches that continue in an extraosseous trajectory.

Where does the nasopalatine nerve exit?

After anastomosing with the contralateral nasopalatine nerve, the nerve exits

the floor of the nasal cavity

by entering the incisive canal. It emerges onto the premaxillary region of the palate via the incisive foramen.

Why are teeth innervated?

Teeth

receive protective sensory trigeminal innervation from the trigeminal ganglion

,

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with an abundant number of sensory nerve endings located in the soft tissue pulp of the crown. The crown itself is the visible part of the tooth within the oral cavity, and is responsible for its masticatory functions.

What nerves supply the tongue?


The hypoglossal nerve (CN XII)

provides motor innervation to all of the intrinsic and extrinsic muscles of the tongue except for the palatoglossus muscle, which is innervated by the vagus nerve (CN X).

What teeth does the inferior alveolar nerve supply?

Through its dental branch, the inferior alveolar nerve provides sensation to

your lower three molars and two premolars per side

. Through its mental branch, it provides sensation to your chin and your bottom lip.

Rebecca Patel
Author
Rebecca Patel
Rebecca is a beauty and style expert with over 10 years of experience in the industry. She is a licensed esthetician and has worked with top brands in the beauty industry. Rebecca is passionate about helping people feel confident and beautiful in their own skin, and she uses her expertise to create informative and helpful content that educates readers on the latest trends and techniques in the beauty world.