Lesser palatine arteries
Artery of the head
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The lesser palatine arteries are arteries of the head. It is a branch of the descending palatine artery. They supply the palatine tonsils and the soft palate.
| Lesser palatine arteries | |
|---|---|
| Details | |
| Source | Descending palatine artery |
| Branches | Tonsillary |
| Supplies | Palatine tonsils, soft palate |
| Identifiers | |
| Latin | arteriae palatinae minores |
| TA98 | A12.2.05.086 |
| TA2 | 4458 |
| FMA | 71688 |
| Anatomical terminology | |
Structure
The lesser palatine arteries are branches of the descending palatine artery.[1] They go through the lesser palatine foramina.[2] They anastomose with the ascending pharyngeal artery.[2]
Function
The lesser palatine arteries give off tonsillary branches to supply the palatine tonsils.[3] They also gives off mucosal branches that usually supply the soft palate,[2][4] and potentially the hard palate.[5]
