Greater palatine nerve block targets which tissues?

• A. Palatal hard and soft tissues distal to the canine
• B. Palatal mucosa anterior to the canine
• C. Palatal mucosa over the first premolar
• D. Nasal mucosa

Answer: (A)

The greater palatine nerve block targets the sensory supply to the posterior part of the hard palate, including the overlying mucosa (soft tissue) and the periosteum (hard tissue). The nerve runs through the greater palatine canal and exits at the greater palatine foramen, delivering sensation to palatal tissues from the canine backward to the molar region. That broad posterior (distal to the canine) coverage is exactly what the block anesthetizes, so it’s the best description of what’s numbed. The anterior palatal area (in front of the canine) is supplied by the nasopalatine nerve, not this block, and nasal mucosa is not the target of the greater palatine nerve block.