The greater palatine foramen is, along with the lesser palatine foramen, one of two foramina (holes) in each of the left and right palatine bones which form the posterior roof of the human mouth, known as the palate.

The greater palatine foramen functions primarily for the transmission of the descending palatine vessels and greater palatine nerve; running anteriorly (forward) and medially (towards the center-line) from it is a groove, for the same vessels and nerve.

The greater palatine foramen is slightly larger than the lesser, and is positioned more anteriorly and laterally on the palatine bone, nearly bordering the maxilla.

[2] This article incorporates text in the public domain from page 180 of the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)

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