Definition
The word 'palatine' relates to the palate, the roof of your mouth. Think of it as the upper part of your oral cavity that separates your mouth from your nasal cavity. Palatine bones are a pair of bones situated in the posterior part of the nasal cavity, forming part of the hard palate. 'Palatine' also shows up historically, referring to a count palatine, a high-ranking official with royal or imperial authority, much like a medieval VIP. It is a pretty diverse term.