Question

Which nerve innervates the hard palate? What structure of the palate does this nerve go through?

A) Facial nerve; goes through the soft palate
B) Trigeminal nerve; goes through the incisive canal
C) Hypoglossal nerve; goes through the foramen magnum
D) Vagus nerve; goes through the external acoustic meatus

Answer 1

The trigeminal nerve (specifically the maxillary branch) innervates the hard palate and goes through the incisive canal.

Step-by-step explanation:

The nerve that innervates the hard palate is the trigeminal nerve, specifically the maxillary branch (V2). This nerve provides sensory innervation to the palate.

The structure of the palate that this nerve goes through is the incisive canal, which is a passage in the anterior part of the hard palate that allows the nasopalatine nerve (a branch of the maxillary nerve) and the sphenopalatine artery to pass through, providing sensory innervation to the anterior part of the hard palate.

Regarding the options provided in the student's question, option B is correct: B) Trigeminal nerve; goes through the incisive canal.