<big><center>[[Oral Cavity - Cavity - Anatomy & Physiology|'''BACK TO ORAL CAVITY - ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY]]</center></big>
<big><center>[[Oral Cavity - Cavity - Anatomy & Physiology|'''BACK TO ORAL CAVITY - ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY]]</center></big>
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==Introduction==
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The soft palate (velum palatine) is located caudally to the hard palate. It is comprised of muscle and is involved in tasting food.
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==Functional Anatomy==
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*Mucle
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*Contacts epiglottis caudally
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==Histology==
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==Innervation==
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==Musculature==
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==Species Differences==
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*Soft palate does not contact the epiglottis in the pig as the porcine soft palate is raised higher in the oral cavity than in other species
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*Horses have a tight laryngeal cuff around the laryngeal entrance therefore cannot lift their soft palate for long periods of time and thus are nasal breathers
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*As brachiocephalic dog breeds have a shortened skull length, the soft palate often obstruct air flow into the larynx causing breathing difficulties