Publication:

An osteological study of morphometry of hard palate and its importance

Background The hard palate is an essential part of human skull, the detailed knowledge of which plays an important role in the passive articulation of speech.

Methods The present study was conducted on 65 dry skulls from the department of anatomy, MVJMC & RH, Bangalore. With vernier caliper, palatine length, palatine breadth and heights were measured. Palatine index and palatine height index were calculated.

Results Mean palatine length was 48.47 ± 4.66 mm. Mean palatine breadth was 36 ± 4.41 mm and height was 8.62 ± 2.76 mm. According to the palatine index range, 66% of the hard palate belongs to leptostaphyline, 18.5% belongs to mesostaphyline and 15. 5% was brachystaphyline. As per palatine height index, 72.3% of hard palate showed chamestaphyline followed by 26.1% orthostaphyline and 1.6% hypistaphyline.

Conclusions These observations can be utilised for ethnic and racial classification of crania, anthropological studies, fabricating complete maxillary dentures for edentulous patients and performing certain surgical procedures in hard palate & soft palate.