descending palatine artery descending palatine artery the descending palatine artery is a branch of the third part of the maxillary artery supplying the hard and soft palate. descending palatine arteryplan of branches of internal maxillary artery. ("desc. pal." visible in upper right.)plan of branches of internal maxillary artery. (artery not labeled, but region is visible.)detailssourcemaxillary artery (3rd part)branchesgreater palatine artery, lesser palatine arteriessupplieshard palate, soft palateidentifierslatinarteria palatina descendensta98a12.2.05.084ta24456fma49791anatomical terminology course it descends through the greater palatine canal with the greater and lesser palatine branches of the pterygopalatine ganglion, and, emerging from the greater palatine foramen, runs forward in a groove on the medial side of the alveolar border of the hard palate to the incisive canal; the terminal branch of the artery passes upward through this canal to anastomose with the sphenopalatine artery. branches branches are distributed to the gums, the palatine glands, and the mucous membrane of the roof of the mouth; while in the pterygopalatine canal it gives off twigs which descend in the lesser palatine canals to supply the soft palate and palatine tonsil, anastomosing with the ascending palatine artery. according to terminologia anatomica, the descending palatine artery branches into the greater palatine artery and lesser palatine arteries.