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).

Completed caudally by the horizontal plate of the palatine bone and rostrally by the palatine process of the incisive bone, it forms with these elements the bony palate.

Its nasal surface, smooth and slightly excavated from one side to the other, makes the floor of the cavity of the nose.

At the level of the palatine suture, it rises against the bone of the opposite side to form the nasal crest (Crista nasalis) that corresponds to the ventral border of the vomer.

The palatine or oral surface shows a longitudinal groove, the palatine groove (Sulcus palatinus) that extends rostrally the greater palatine groove (Foramen palatinum majus), carved at the edge of the palatine bone.

N.B.: In Bulls and to a smaller degree in small Ruminants, a palatine sinus extends as a dependency of the maxillary sinus. This palatine sinus always stays separated from the one of the opposite palatine bone by a complete median septum.