{{Short description|Opening of the incisive canals on the hard palate immediately behind the incisor teeth}} {{Infobox bone | Name = Incisive foramen | Latin = foramen incisivum | Image = Gray160.png | Caption = The bony palate and alveolar arch. | Image2 = | Caption2 = |PartOf=Hard palate}} In the human mouth, the '''incisive foramen''' (also known as: "''anterior palatine foramen''", or "''nasopalatine foramen''") is the opening of the incisive canals on the hard palate immediately behind the incisor teeth. It gives passage to blood vessels and nerves. The incisive foramen is situated within the incisive fossa of the maxilla.
The incisive foramen is used as an anatomical landmark for defining the severity of cleft lip and cleft palate.
The incisive foramen exists in a variety of species.
== Structure == The incisive foramen is a funnel-shaped opening in the bone of the oral hard palate representing the inferior termination of the incisive canal.{{Citation needed|date=May 2022}} An oral prominence - the incisive papilla - overlies the incisive fossa.<ref>{{Cite book |url= |title=Gray's Anatomy: The Anatomical Basis of Clinical Practice |editor-first1=Susan |editor-last1=Standring |publisher=Elsevier Limited |year=2016 |isbn=978-0-7020-5230-9 |edition=41st |location=Philadelphia |pages=510 |oclc=920806541}}</ref>
The incisive foramen is situated immediately behind the incisor teeth, and in between the two premaxillae.{{Citation needed|date=May 2022}}
=== Contents === The incisive foramen allows for blood vessels and nerves to pass. These include:
* the pterygopalatine nerves to the hard palate.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last1=Maynard |first1=Robert Lewis |chapter-url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780128118375000101 |title=Anatomy and Histology of the Laboratory Rat in Toxicology and Biomedical Research |last2=Downes |first2=Noel |date=2019-01-01 |publisher=Academic Press |isbn=978-0-12-811837-5 |pages=109–121 |language=en |chapter=10 - Nasal Cavity}}</ref> * the nasopalatine nerves from the floor of the nasal cavity.<ref name=":3">{{Citation|last1=Tomaszewska|first1=Iwona M.|title=Anatomy and Variations of the Incisive Foramen|date=2019|url=https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-97961-8_11|work=Anatomical Variations in Clinical Dentistry|pages=117–123|editor-last=Iwanaga|editor-first=Joe|place=Cham|publisher=Springer International Publishing|language=en|doi=10.1007/978-3-319-97961-8_11|isbn=978-3-319-97961-8|access-date=2021-09-16|last2=Popieluszko|first2=Patrick|last3=Tomaszewski|first3=Krzysztof A.|last4=Walocha|first4=Jerzy A.|s2cid=86526891 |editor2-last=Tubbs|editor2-first=R. Shane|url-access=subscription}}</ref> *the sopalatine branches of the infratrochlear nerve, a branch of the ophthalmic nerve (V1), itself a branch of the trigeminal nerve.<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Moskovitz|first1=Joshua B.|title=Nerves and nerve injuries|last2=Choi|first2=Andrew|publisher=Academic Press|year=2015|isbn=978-0-12-410447-1|volume=1 - History, embryology, anatomy, imaging, and diagnostics|location=Amsterdam|pages=147–151|language=en|chapter=11 - Regional Nerve Blocks of the Head and Neck|doi=10.1016/B978-0-12-410390-0.00011-1|oclc=908128669}}</ref> * the sphenopalatine artery supplying the mucous membrane covering the hard palate of the mouth.<ref name=":3" /> * the sphenopalatine vein draining the mucous membrane covering the hard palate of the mouth.
== Clinical significance == As many nerves exit the incisive canal at the incisive foramen, it may be used for injection of local anaesthetic.<ref name=":3" />
When plain radiographs are taken of the mouth, the incisive foramen may be mistaken for a periapical lesion.<ref name=":1">{{Cite book|last1=Gorrel|first1=Cecilia|chapter-url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780702049439000120|title=Veterinary Dentistry for the General Practitioner|last2=Andersson|first2=Susanne|last3=Verhaert|first3=Leen|date=2013-01-01|publisher=Saunders|isbn=978-0-7020-4943-9|edition=2nd|pages=67–80|language=en|chapter=7 - Dental radiography|doi=10.1016/B978-0-7020-4943-9.00012-0}}</ref>
The incisive foramen can be used as a landmark when describing cleft lip and cleft palate, which can either extend in front of (primary) or behind (secondary) the foramen.<ref name=":2">{{Cite book|last=Rochette|first=Judy|chapter-url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780323226523001031|title=August's Consultations in Feline Internal Medicine|publisher=Saunders|year=2016|isbn=978-0-323-22652-3|volume=7|pages=1024–1033|language=en|chapter=103 - Disorders and Normal Variations of the Oral Cavity of Kittens and Senior Cats|doi=10.1016/B978-0-323-22652-3.00103-1}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last1=Mitchell|first1=Barry S.|title=Embryology|last2=Sharma|first2=Ram|publisher=Churchill Livingstone|year=2009|isbn=978-0-7020-3225-7|edition=2nd|location=Edinburgh|pages=63–72|chapter=11 - Development of the head and neck, the eye and ear|doi=10.1016/B978-0-7020-3225-7.50014-2|oclc=245507391}}</ref> It is also important as a surgical landmark to avoid damaging its nerves and vascular structures.<ref name=":3" />
== History == The incisive foramen is also known as the anterior palatine foramen,<ref name=":1" /> the nasopalatine foramen, and the incisive fossa.
== Other animals == In many other species, the incisive foramina allow for passage of ducts to the vomeronasal organ.<ref name=":0" /> It can be found in cats,<ref name=":2" /> and alligators.<ref>{{Cite book|last1=De Iuliis|first1=Gerardo|chapter-url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780123750600000085|title=The Dissection of Vertebrates|last2=Pulerà|first2=Dino|date=2011-01-01|publisher=Academic Press|isbn=978-0-12-375060-0|edition=2nd|pages=253–285|language=en|chapter=8 - Reptile Skulls and Mandibles|doi=10.1016/B978-0-12-375060-0.00008-5}}</ref>
== Additional images == <gallery> File:Gray187.png|Inferior surface of base of skull File:Incisive fossa.jpg|Incisive fossa </gallery>
== References == {{Gray's}} <references />
== External links == * {{SUNYAnatomyFigs|22|4b|01}}
{{Facial bones}} {{Foramina of skull}} {{Portal bar|Anatomy}} {{Authority control}}
Category:Foramina of the skull Category:Skull Category:Human head and neck Category:Otorhinolaryngology