Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 22, 2026
Use of Micro X-ray Computed Tomography with Phosphotungstic Acid Preparation to Visualize Human Fibromuscular Tissue
Published on: September 5, 2019
Macro- and micro-anatomical, histological and computed tomography scan characterization of the nasopalatine canal
Xin Liang1, Reinhilde Jacobs, Wendy Martens
1Oral Imaging Centre, Faculty of Medicine, School of Dentistry, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium. xin.liang@med.kuleuven.be
Aim:
To determine the human anatomic variability of the nasopalatine canal and determine its characteristics using an anatomical, histological and computed tomography (CT) scan evaluation.
Materials And Methods:
Measurements for the canal characteristics were carried out on 163 dry human skulls and 120 upper jaw spiral CT scans, taken from patients for pre-operative planning purposes of implant placement in the incisor region. Furthermore, four human cadaver specimens were imaged using a high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (HR-MRI) unit. Afterwards, these specimens were serially sectioned for histological examination to evaluate the nasopalatine canal region and its content.
Results:
The nasopalatine canal anatomy showed a large variability in morphology and dimensions, with the canal branching in up to four canals at the level of the nose. The canal diameter was on average 3.3 mm (+/-0.9 mm SD), and typically enlarged by age and male gender (p<0.05). HR-MRI and histological sections enabled to identify the neurovascular structures within the canals.
Conclusions:
The large anatomic variations, the increased canal dimensions with age and the neurovascular canal content are all factors favouring a thorough three-dimensional planning before surgery, such as implant placement, of the anterior maxillary region.
