The posterior nasal spine is part of the horizontal plate of the

palatine bone In anatomy, the palatine bones (; derived from the Latin ''palatum'') are two irregular bones of the facial skeleton in many animal species, located above the uvula in the throat. Together with the maxilla, they comprise the hard palate. Stru ...

of the

skull The skull, or cranium, is typically a bony enclosure around the brain of a vertebrate. In some fish, and amphibians, the skull is of cartilage. The skull is at the head end of the vertebrate. In the human, the skull comprises two prominent ...

. It is found at the medial end of its posterior border. It is paired with the corresponding palatine bone to form a solid spine. It is the attachment of the uvula muscle.

Structure

The posterior nasal spine is found at the medial end of the posterior border of the horizontal plate of the

of the

Function

The posterior nasal spine is the attachment of the uvula muscle.

Clinical applications

The posterior nasal spine is an important cephalometric landmark.

Additional images

File:Gray187.png, Base of skull. Inferior surface.

References

External links