Descending palatine artery

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

The descending palatine artery descends through the pterygopalatine canal with the anterior palatine branch of the sphenopalatine ganglion, and, emerging from the greater palatine foramen, runs forward in a groove on the medial side of the alveolar border of the hard palate to the incisive canal; the terminal branch of the artery passes upward through this canal to anastomose with the sphenopalatine artery.

Branches

Branches are distributed to the gums, the palatine glands, and the mucous membrane of the roof of the mouth; while in the pterygopalatine canal it gives off twigs which descend in the lesser palatine canals to supply the soft palate and palatine tonsil, anastomosing with the ascending palatine artery.

According to Terminologia Anatomica, the descending palatine artery branches into the "greater palatine artery" and "lesser palatine arteries".

The greater palatine artery goes through the greater palatine foramen, and supplies the hard palate
The lesser palatine arteries go through the lesser palatine foramina, and supply the soft palate