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Palatine Bone of Domestic Animals: Anatomy of Ox, Horse, Dog and Fowl
The palatine bone is a paired facial bone that forms part of the hard palate, nasal cavity, and pterygopalatine region in domestic animals. Its structure varies among species and plays an important role in separating the oral and nasal cavities. This article describes the comparative anatomy of the palatine bone in ox, horse, dog, and fowl.
Palatine Bone of Ox
The palatine bone of the ox is situated on either side of the posterior nares, and consists of a horizontal part and a perpendicular (vertical) part.
Horizontal Part
The horizontal part of the palatine bone forms the posterior one-fourth of the bony palate. Its anterior border articulates with the palatine process of the maxilla.
The posterior border is free and provides attachment for the aponeurosis of the soft palate. Its medial border meets that of the opposite bone at the median palatine suture.
The palatine surface is perforated near its middle by the anterior palatine foramen, anterior to which is a faint palatine groove.
The palatine canal is formed entirely within this part and opens caudally at the maxillary hiatus as the posterior palatine foramen.
The horizontal part consists of two plates that enclose a portion of the palatine sinus.
Vertical Part
The vertical part of the palatine bone forms the posterior part of the lateral wall of the nasal cavity and partially bounds the posterior nares.
Medially, it articulates with the pterygoid bone, and laterally with the subsphenoidal process of the basisphenoid bone.
It presents a notch along its upper border which, together with the ethmoid and presphenoid bones, forms the sphenopalatine foramen. Caudal to this notch, it articulates with the presphenoid bone.
Palatine Bone of Horse
In the palatine bone of the horse, the horizontal part is narrow and is not excavated to form the palatine sinus.
The anterior palatine foramen is formed between the anterior border of the horizontal part and the palatine process of the maxilla.
The palatine canal is formed between the maxilla and the vertical part.
The perpendicular part is more extensive, consists of two plates, and is excavated to form the palatine part of the sphenopalatine sinus behind the sphenopalatine foramen.
The inner plate curves medially to articulate with the vomer.
The outer plate articulates with the maxilla, frontal bone, and orbital wing of the sphenoid bone. It may also articulate with the lacrimal bone.
Palatine Bone of Dog
In the palatine bone of the dog, the horizontal part is extensive and forms the posterior one-third of the bony palate.
The palatine canal is sometimes formed entirely within the horizontal part. The perpendicular part is very extensive. Its lateral surface is free and forms most of the medial wall of the pterygopalatine fossa.
The maxillary foramen is situated in a deep recess between this bone and the zygomatic process of the malar bone. Just above this is another foramen that opens into the nasal cavity.
The posterior palatine and sphenopalatine foramina are situated farther caudally and slightly lower, with the former located ventral to the latter.
A horizontal plate extends from the nasal surface, meets its fellow of the opposite side and the laminae of the vomer, completing the lamina transversalis, which divides the olfactory and respiratory parts of the nasal cavity.
There is no palatine sinus.
Palatine Bone of Fowl
The palatine bone of the fowl is wide posteriorly and narrow anteriorly. It forms the lateral boundary of the posterior opening of the nasal cavity and part of the roof of the oral cavity.
It articulates with the pterygoid and sphenoid bones posteriorly, and with the premaxilla and maxilla anteriorly.
