Gingival branches of greater palatine nerve
Rami gingivales nervi palatini majoris
Definition
The gingival branches of greater palatine nerve arise from the greater palatine nerve as it exits through the greater palatine foramen to reach the oral surface of the hard palate (i.e. the roof of the oral cavity). As, the greater palatine nerve passes forward on the undersurface of the roof of the oral cavity, it innervates the mucosa and glands of the hard palate medially, while the gingival branches of greater palatine nerve innervate the adjacent gums laterally, almost as far forward as the premolar teeth. The gingival branches transmit general somatic and taste sensations from the gum region.
References
Text written by Muhammad A. Javaid, MD, PhD © 2022 IMAIOS.
Drake, R.L., Vogl, A.W. and Mitchell, A.W.M. (2009). ‘Chapter 8: Head and Neck’ in Gray’s anatomy for Students. (2nd ed.) Philadelphia PA 19103-2899: Elsevier, pp. 1054.
Fillmore, E.P. and Seifert, M.F. (2015). ‘Chapter 22-Anatomy of the Trigeminal Nerve’, in Nerves and Nerve Injuries. Editor(s): Tubbs, R.S., Rizk, E., Shoja, M.M., Loukas, M., Barbaro, N. and Spinner, R.J. Academic Press, pp. 328. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-410390-0.00023-8
