Final answer:
The palatine bone forms the posterior quarter of the hard palate through its horizontal plate. It is essential in separating the oral and nasal cavities and can be best observed in an inferior view of the skull.
Step-by-step explanation:
The palatine bone is one of a pair of irregularly shaped bones that contribute small areas to the lateral walls of the nasal cavity and the medial wall of each orbit. Its horizontal plate is a medial extension from the palatine bone that forms the posterior quarter of the hard palate. The palatine bones are best seen in an inferior view of the skull.
In relation to the formation of the hard palate, the palatine processes of the maxilla bones form the anterior portion, while the horizontal plate of the palatine bones forms the posterior portion of the hard palate. This structure separates the nasal cavity from the oral cavity.