The Incisive Canal: A Comprehensive Review.

Sasha Lake,R Shane Tubbs,Rod J Oskouian,Marios Loukas,Shogo Kikuta,Joe Iwanaga

doi:10.7759/cureus.3069

Abstract

The incisive canal, also known as the nasopalatine canal, is an interosseous conduit through the anterior maxilla connecting the oral and nasal cavities. Within this canal lies the nasopalatine nerve and the vascular anastomosis between the greater palatine and sphenopalatine arteries. The embryology of the canal has led to interesting theories explaining its function. Efforts have been made to describe the morphometrics of the incisive canal by radiologic evaluation across sex and ethnicities. This paper aims to review the current literature on the embryology, anatomy, and clinical relevance of the incisive canal.

Highlights

BackgroundThe incisive canal is located in the anterior part of the hard palate and serves as a communication between the oral and nasal cavities
This paper aims to review the current literature on the embryology, anatomy, and clinical relevance of the incisive canal
The incisive canal has a length of 10 mm and a width of up to 6 mm at the incisive fossa, takes the “Y”-shaped morphology, and is located at about 2 cm from the opening of the nares

Summary

Introduction

The incisive canal is located in the anterior part of the hard palate and serves as a communication between the oral and nasal cavities. Using a larger sample size of 26 human fetuses, Kim et al verified Radlanski’s argument of the incisive canal developing within the pre-maxillary bone by observing that the nerves and blood vessels grew within the mesenchyme, albeit anterior to where the definitive canal is positioned [7] Another structure called the nasopalatine duct can be found inside of the nasopalatine canal. The incisive canal ( referred to as the nasopalatine canal or anterior palatine canal) is a bony conduit of the maxillary bone connecting the nasal and oral cavities (Figure 1) [5] Neurovascular structures traversing this canal include the nasopalatine nerve providing sensory input to the pterygopalatine ganglion, from the mucosa of the hard palate and gingiva around the incisors up to the canine teeth and a vascular anastomosis between the posterior septal branch of the sphenopalatine artery and the greater palatine artery [13]. The variations in this region are essential for the oral surgeon [39,40,41]

Conclusions

Findings

Disclosures