A striated muscle on the hard palate of rodents and rabbits

Summary A striated muscle of the hard palate has been previously described in some rodents and rabbits. It is not termed in the official veterinary anatomical nomenclature. The aim of this work was to verify the existence of this muscle. Heads of the golden hamster (Mesocricetus auratus), the guinea pig (Cavia aperea f. porcellus), the laboratory rat (Rattus norvegicus var. alba), the field vole (Microtus agrestis) and the domestic rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus f. domesticus) have been dissected. Moreover, histological sections have been prepared from heads of the field vole. In all species under study, we could detect a striated muscle of the hard palate composed of an anterior and a posterior muscle. The anterior muscle originated on the os incisivum and diverged in anterior, lateral and posterior directions. The posterior muscle originated on the processus palatinus maxillae and verged into the m. buccinator. Inter-species differences could be detected in shape and position of the muscle. The palatal muscle was innervated by the ramus buccalis of the facial nerve. Whether this muscle should be classified as an individual facial muscle or as a part of the m. buccinator remains to be discussed.