Corpus: Descending palatine artery

The descending palatine artery is a small vascular branch of the maxillary artery that supplies the palate with arterial blood.

The descending palatine artery originates from the third pterygopalatine section of the maxillary artery. Together with nerve fibers from the pterygopalatine ganglion, it descends caudally through the greater palatine canal, located between the palatine bone and the maxilla. It then emerges at the greater palatine foramen on the bony surface of the palate, where it is also known as the greater palatine artery. From this point, the vessel runs forward in a depression at the medial base of the alveolar ridge toward the incisive canal.

The terminal branch of the artery runs superiorly through the incisive canal and anastomoses with the sphenopalatine artery. Further branches run to the palatal mucosa and the gingiva. In the greater palatine canal, the artery gives off smaller branches that descend caudally through the lesser palatine canal to supply the soft palate and the palatine tonsil. These branches anastomose with the ascending palatine artery.