Soft Palate

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Introduction

The soft palate (velum palatine) is located caudally to the hard palate. It is comprised of muscle and is involved in tasting food and in deglutition.

Structure and Function

• Muscle

• Contacts epiglottis caudally

• Very folded mucosa

• Striated palatine muscle

Histology

Soft Palate (Mouse) - Copyright RVC 2008

• Respiratory mucosa - ciliated pseudostratified columnar epithelium on aboral surface

• Stratified squamous epithelium on oral surface

• Palatine salivary glands

Musculature and Innervation

• Sensation and taste from glossopharyngeal (CN IX)

• Palatine muscle
  • Origin: hard palate transeverse ridges
  • Insertion: soft palate
  • Shortens palate
  • Major innervation from vagus nerve (CN X) **Minor from glossopgaryngeal nerve (CN IX)

• Tensor velli palatini
  • Origin: near tympanic bulla on temporal bone
  • Insertion: lateral aponeurosis
  • Pharyngeal arch 1
  • Mandibular of trigeminal (CN V3)
  • Tenses soft palate

• Levator velli palatini
  • Origin: near tympanic bulla on temporal bone
  • Insertion: lateral aponeurosis
  • Raises soft palate
  • Major innervation from vagus nerve (CN X) and minor from glossopgaryngeal nerve (CN IX)

• Palatopharyngeus
  • closes palatopharyngeal arch and therefore lift soft palate
  • Major innervation from vagus nerve (CN X)
  • Minor from glossopgaryngeal nerve (CN IX)

Species Differences

Porcine

• Soft palate does not contact the epiglottis as the porcine soft palate is raised higher in the oral cavity than in other species

Equine

• Tight laryngeal cuff around the laryngeal entrance therefore the soft palate cannot be raised for long periods of time and thus horses are nasal breathers

Canine

• As brachiocephalic breeds have a shortened skull length, the soft palate often obstruct air flow into the larynx causing breathing difficulties

Avian

• Birds lack a soft palate

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