Sphenoidal process of palatine bone

Sphenoidal process of palatine bone
Sphenoidal process of palatine bone
	Left palatine bone. Nasal aspect. Enlarged.
	Left palatine bone. Posterior aspect. Enlarged.
Details
Identifiers
Latin	processus sphenoidalis
TA98	A02.1.13.012
TA2	810
FMA	59146
	Anatomical terms of bone [ edit on Wikidata]

Last updated July 19, 2025

The sphenoidal process of palatine bone is a thin, superomedially directed plate of bone. It is smaller and more inferior compared to the orbital process of palatine bone.^[1]

Anatomy

Surfaces

The superior surface articulates with the root of the pterygoid process and the under surface of the sphenoidal concha, its medial border reaching as far as the ala of the vomer; it presents a groove which contributes to the formation of the pharyngeal canal.
The medial surface is concave, and forms part of the lateral wall of the nasal cavity.
The lateral surface is divided into an articular and a non-articular portion: the former is rough, for articulation with the medial pterygoid plate; the latter is smooth, and forms part of the pterygopalatine fossa.

Borders

The anterior border forms the posterior boundary of the sphenopalatine notch.^[1]
The posterior border, serrated at the expense of the outer table,^{[ citation needed ]} articulates with the vaginal process of the medial pterygoid plate of sphenoid bone.^[1]
The medial border articulates with ala of vomer.^[1]

The orbital and sphenoidal processes are separated from one another by the sphenopalatine notch. Sometimes the two processes are united above, and form between them a complete foramen, or the notch may be crossed by one or more spicules of bone, giving rise to two or more foramina.

Additional images

Articulation of left palatine bone with maxilla.
Base of skull. Inferior surface.

References

1 2 3 4 Standring, Susan (2020). Gray's Anatomy: The Anatomical Basis of Clinical Practice (42th ed.). New York. p. 619. ISBN 978-0-7020-7707-4. OCLC 1201341621.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)

This article incorporates text in the public domain from page 169 of the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)

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[:224-1] 1 2 3 4 Standring, Susan (2020). Gray's Anatomy: The Anatomical Basis of Clinical Practice (42th ed.). New York. p. 619. ISBN 978-0-7020-7707-4. OCLC 1201341621.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)

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