Localización del agujero palatino mayor en cráneos prehispánicos del valle de Quíbor, estado Lara, Venezuela Location of the greater palatine foramen in prehispanic skulls of the Quíbor valley, Lara state, Venezuela

In Venezuela there are few studies on the hard palate in prehispanic samples. In the human species, phenotypic differences and similarities can be analyzed using craniofacial morphometry. In this sense, knowledge of the topography of the greater palatine foramen (MPA) is necessary for various maxillofacial surgical / anesthetic procedures, as well as for the study of ethnic variabilities. The objective of this research was to determine the location of the GPF on dry skulls and its possible relationship with the theories of the settlement of the Venezuelan territory. Methodology: quantitative approach, non-experimental type - transectional, 44 prehispanic skulls from Valle de Quibor, Lara state, Venezuela were included. Direct observation was used for the location of the GPF with respect to the molar group, and measurements with the use of a vernier calibrated in millimeters for the distance from the GPF to the mid-palatal suture (MPS), followed by statistical analysis with the Microsoft Excel program. Results: The GPF was located in an E position in 39.8%, the mean distance from the APM to the SMP was 15.73 mm for the right side, and 15.48 mm for the left side. Conclusion: the distance between the GPF and the MPS coincides with that reported in the literature, the most frequent location of the GPF is in front of the upper third molar, these two indicators represent a potential tool for locating the GPF in the Venezuelan population, as well as the results presented could be useful in anthropological and population affiliation studies.