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The aim of the study is to determine morphometric indices of hard palate, position and location of greater palatine foramen (GPF) in relation to maxillary molars and number of lesser palatine foramen (LPF).Materials and methods: 100 adult skulls (65 males and 35 females) were obtained from the Department of Anatomy. The parameters of hard palate like length, breadth and height were measured and palatine indices were calculated. Observations were made on the position and relation of GPF with maxillary molar and number of LPF. There were highly significant differences between both the sexes in Palatal length, breadth and height. The palatine index indicated that majority (61%)of skulls had narrow palate (Leptostaphyline).The palatine height index showed that majority (69%) of skulls had high arched or deep palate.(Hypsistaphyline). The greater palatine foramen was at the level of third molar in 50%, in between second and third molar in 35.5%, and at the level of second molar in 14% . In majority of skulls (71%) one lesser palatine foramen was observed and about (35%) of skulls had two LPF and (2.5%) of skulls had three LPF, and in about (5.5%) absence of LPF was observed. Conclusion:Thorough anatomical study of hard palate is useful in ethnic and racial classification of crania, anthropological studies, fabricating complete maxillary dentures for edentulous patients and performing certain surgical procedures in hard palate and soft palate. Knowledge of palatal indices would be helpful to the anatomists, anthropologists, and forensic experts and surgeons during repair of the cleft palate and lip.

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