incisive foramen

The incisive foramen is a funnel-shaped opening in the bone of the oral hard palate representing the inferior termination of the incisive canal.{{Citation needed|date=May 2022}} An oral prominence - the incisive papilla - overlies the incisive fossa.{{Cite book |url= |title=Gray's Anatomy: The Anatomical Basis of Clinical Practice |editor-first1=Susan |editor-last1=Standring |publisher=Elsevier Limited |year=2016 |isbn=978-0-7020-5230-9 |edition=41st |location=Philadelphia |pages=510 |oclc=920806541}}

The incisive foramen is situated immediately behind the incisor teeth, and in between the two premaxillae.{{Citation needed|date=May 2022}}

The incisive foramen allows for blood vessels and nerves to pass. These include:

• the pterygopalatine nerves to the hard palate.{{Cite book |last1=Maynard |first1=Robert Lewis |chapter-url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780128118375000101 |title=Anatomy and Histology of the Laboratory Rat in Toxicology and Biomedical Research |last2=Downes |first2=Noel |date=2019-01-01 |publisher=Academic Press |isbn=978-0-12-811837-5 |pages=109–121 |language=en |chapter=10 - Nasal Cavity}}
• the nasopalatine nerves from the floor of the nasal cavity.{{Citation|last1=Tomaszewska|first1=Iwona M.|title=Anatomy and Variations of the Incisive Foramen|date=2019|url=https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-97961-8_11|work=Anatomical Variations in Clinical Dentistry|pages=117–123|editor-last=Iwanaga|editor-first=Joe|place=Cham|publisher=Springer International Publishing|language=en|doi=10.1007/978-3-319-97961-8_11|isbn=978-3-319-97961-8|access-date=2021-09-16|last2=Popieluszko|first2=Patrick|last3=Tomaszewski|first3=Krzysztof A.|last4=Walocha|first4=Jerzy A.|s2cid=86526891 |editor2-last=Tubbs|editor2-first=R. Shane}}
• the sopalatine branches of the infratrochlear nerve, a branch of the ophthalmic nerve (V1), itself a branch of the trigeminal nerve.{{Cite book|last1=Moskovitz|first1=Joshua B.|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/908128669|title=Nerves and nerve injuries|last2=Choi|first2=Andrew|publisher=Academic Press|year=2015|isbn=978-0-12-410447-1|volume=1 - History, embryology, anatomy, imaging, and diagnostics|location=Amsterdam|pages=147–151|language=en|chapter=11 - Regional Nerve Blocks of the Head and Neck|doi=10.1016/B978-0-12-410390-0.00011-1|oclc=908128669}}
• 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.

As many nerves exit the incisive canal at the incisive foramen, it may be used for injection of local anaesthetic.

When plain radiographs are taken of the mouth, the incisive foramen may be mistaken for a periapical lesion.{{Cite book|last1=Gorrel|first1=Cecilia|chapter-url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780702049439000120|title=Veterinary Dentistry for the General Practitioner|last2=Andersson|first2=Susanne|last3=Verhaert|first3=Leen|date=2013-01-01|publisher=Saunders|isbn=978-0-7020-4943-9|edition=2nd|pages=67–80|language=en|chapter=7 - Dental radiography|doi=10.1016/B978-0-7020-4943-9.00012-0}}

The incisive foramen can be used as a landmark when describing cleft lip and cleft palate, which can either extend in front of (primary) or behind (secondary) the foramen.{{Cite book|last=Rochette|first=Judy|chapter-url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780323226523001031|title=August's Consultations in Feline Internal Medicine|publisher=Saunders|year=2016|isbn=978-0-323-22652-3|volume=7|pages=1024–1033|language=en|chapter=103 - Disorders and Normal Variations of the Oral Cavity of Kittens and Senior Cats|doi=10.1016/B978-0-323-22652-3.00103-1}}{{Cite book|last1=Mitchell|first1=Barry S.|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/245507391|title=Embryology|last2=Sharma|first2=Ram|publisher=Churchill Livingstone|year=2009|isbn=978-0-7020-3225-7|edition=2nd|location=Edinburgh|pages=63–72|chapter=11 - Development of the head and neck, the eye and ear|doi=10.1016/B978-0-7020-3225-7.50014-2|oclc=245507391}} It is also important as a surgical landmark to avoid damaging its nerves and vascular structures.

The incisive foramen is also known as the anterior palatine foramen, the nasopalatine foramen, and the incisive fossa.

In many other species, the incisive foramina allow for passage of ducts to the vomeronasal organ. It can be found in cats, and alligators.{{Cite book|last1=De Iuliis|first1=Gerardo|chapter-url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780123750600000085|title=The Dissection of Vertebrates|last2=Pulerà|first2=Dino|date=2011-01-01|publisher=Academic Press|isbn=978-0-12-375060-0|edition=2nd|pages=253–285|language=en|chapter=8 - Reptile Skulls and Mandibles|doi=10.1016/B978-0-12-375060-0.00008-5}}

File:Gray187.png|Inferior surface of base of skull

File:Incisive fossa.jpg|Incisive fossa

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{{Foramina of skull}}

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Category:Foramina of the skull

Category:Skull

Category:Human head and neck

Category:Otorhinolaryngology