Incisive foramen
In the human mouth, the incisive 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. An oral prominence - the incisive papilla - overlies the incisive fossa.The incisive foramen is situated immediately behind the incisor teeth, and in between the two premaxillae.
Contents
The incisive foramen allows for blood vessels and nerves to pass. These include:- the pterygopalatine nerves to the hard palate.
- the nasopalatine nerves from the floor of the nasal cavity.
- the sopalatine branches of the infratrochlear nerve, a branch of the ophthalmic nerve, itself a branch of the trigeminal nerve.
- the sphenopalatine artery supplying the mucous membrane covering the hard palate of the mouth.
- the sphenopalatine vein draining the mucous membrane covering the hard palate of the mouth.
Clinical significance
When plain radiographs are taken of the mouth, the incisive foramen may be mistaken for a periapical lesion.
The incisive foramen can be used as a landmark when describing cleft lip and cleft palate, which can either extend in front of or behind the foramen. It is also important as a surgical landmark to avoid damaging its nerves and vascular structures.