112 



APPLIED ANATOMY. 



through the pterygopalatine canal from the internal maxillary artery and make their 

 appearance on the hard palate at the posterior palatine foramen. This foramen is on 

 the roof of the mouth opposite the last molar tooth and 0.5 cm. to the inner side and 

 in front of the hamular process f Fig. 140). This hamular process can be felt just pos- 



Opening of the 

 pharyngeal pouch 



FIG. 139. Cleft palate, showing the opening of the pharyngeal pouch on the posterior wall. 



terior and to the inner side of the last molar tooth. If, in operating for cleft palate, the 

 tissues are loosened from the bone too close to the hamular process, this artery may be 

 torn near its exit from the foramen, in which case the bleeding is very free. To control 

 it, the canal can be plugged with a slip of gauze. In detaching the soft palate from 



Posterior or descending 

 palatine artery 



Hamular process 



Tensor palati muscle 

 FIG. 140. Roof of the mouth, mucous membrane removed. 



the posterior edge of the hard palate, it should be remembered that this attachment 

 is quite strong. Not only are the muscles of the soft palate themselves attached to 

 the bone, but the pharyngeal aponeurosis which lies under the mucous membrane on 

 the posterior or upper surface of the soft palate is also attached to the bone. 



Palatal Arches. Farther back in the mouth, one sees the anterior and pos- 

 terior arches of the palate or pillars of the fauces with the uvula. The anterior 



