Which nerve supplies palatal mucoperiosteum innervation to the maxillary posterior teeth (1–5 & 12–16)?

• A. Greater palatine nerve
• B. Nasopalatine nerve
• C. PSA
• D. MSA

Answer: (A)

The palatal mucoperiosteum of the maxillary posterior teeth is supplied by the greater palatine nerve. This nerve is a branch of the maxillary division of the trigeminal nerve that travels through the greater palatine canal and exits at the greater palatine foramen to innervate the hard palate mucosa and the gingiva behind the canine region, covering the posterior teeth area.

In contrast, the nasopalatine nerve serves the anterior hard palate from the canine forward to the incisors, not the posterior teeth. The posterior superior alveolar (PSA) and middle superior alveolar (MSA) nerves mainly provide buccal (facial) innervation to the maxillary teeth and their buccal gingiva, not the palatal mucosa. So the greater palatine nerve is the best match for innervation of the palatal mucoperiosteum over the maxillary posterior teeth.