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.
Functional Anatomy
- Muscle
- Contacts epiglottis caudally
- Very folded mucosa
Histology
- Respiratory mucosa- ciliated pseudostratified columnar epithelium
- palatine salivary glands
Musculature and Innervation
Species Differences
- 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
- 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
- As brachiocephalic dog breeds have a shortened skull length, the soft palate often obstruct air flow into the larynx causing breathing difficulties