The lesser palatine foramina are a pair of foramina (openings) on each of the palatine bones, which form the posterior roof of the human mouth. They are sometimes referred to as the minor palatine foramina. The lesser palatine foramina form a passage through the bone for the lesser palatine nerves and the

lesser palatine arteries The lesser palatine arteries are Artery, arteries of the head. It is a branch of the descending palatine artery. They supply the Palatine tonsil, palatine tonsils and the soft palate. Structure The lesser palatine arteries are branches of the d ...

so that they may reach the

soft palate The soft palate (also known as the velum, palatal velum, or muscular palate) is, in mammals, the soft biological tissue, tissue constituting the back of the roof of the mouth. The soft palate is part of the palate of the mouth; the other part is ...

from above. They are positioned posterior to the

greater palatine foramen The greater palatine foramen is, along with the lesser palatine foramen, one of two foramina (holes) in each of the left and right palatine bones which form the posterior roof of the human mouth, known as the palate. It is sometimes known as the ...

, in the pyramidal process of the palatine bone.

References

External links

* Bones of the head and neck {{musculoskeletal-stub Palate