Anatomical variability of greater palatine canal and greater palatine foramen in men of the first period of adulthood

The purpose of research is to reveal the anatomical variability of the shape and size of the greater palatine canal and the greater palatine foramen in men of the first period of adulthood. Material and Methods. The object of the study included 129 men of the first period of adulthood (from 20 to 35 years). The number of the greater palatine foramen, their shape, antero-posterior and medio-distal diameters, the length of the greater palatine canal, its shape, its medio-distal and antero-posterior diameters in the upper, middle and lower thirds of the canal were determined on cone-ray computed tomograms. Results. In men of the first period of adulthood, the medio-distal diameter of the greater palatine foramen on the right averaged 3.67±0.79 mm; on the left, 3.64±0.80 mm; the antero-posterior diameter of the greater palatine foramen on the right averaged 5.79 ±0.86 mm; on the left, 5.73±0.84 mm. 10 forms of the greater palatine foramen were identified: oval, elongated in the antero-posterior direction, helical, crescent-shaped, triangular, teardrop-shaped, round, bean-shaped, diamond-shaped, semicircular and ovoid. The length of the greater palatine canal on the right is 33.59±2.87 mm, on the left — 32.94±2.92 mm. 6 forms of the greater palatine canal were identified: wave-shaped, funnel-shaped with a bend in the lower third, hourglass shape, zigzag, crescent, straight shape. Conclusion. The greater palatine canal and the greater palatal foramen have a pronounced variability in size, shape and topography in men of the first period of adulthood. However, no significant bilateral differences in the medio-distal and anteropos-terior diameters of the greater palatine foramen and the length of the greater palatine canal were found.