The greater palatine artery is an important blood vessel which supplies the hard palate and the gum. It is one of the two branches into which the descending palatine artery divides; the other being the lesser palatine branch. You must remember that the descending palatine originates from the third portion of the maxillary artery, which in turn springs from the external carotid.
The greater palatine artery arises from the descending palatine in the greater palatine canal. Then it runs down together with the lesser palatine artery and nerve for about one cm. It emerges out onto the roof of the oral cavity through the greater palatine foramen, stretching in the palatine groove of the hard palate.
The greater palatine artery travels forwards in this groove, giving off several collateral branches as it goes. These secondary branches further ramify to bring oxygenated blood to the bone of the hard palate, the gum, and the mucous membrane.
Below, a picture of sagittal section of the nasal cavity and oral cavity, showing the right lateral wall of nose and roof of oral cavity. To the right of the nasal cavity, you can see the descending palatine divide into the lesser and the greater palatine artery.
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