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.

Soft Palate - Copyright Nottingham 2008

Structure and Function

Muscle

Contacts epiglottis caudally

Very folded mucosa

Striated palatine muscle

Soft Palate Cross-section - Copyright RVC

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)
- 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)

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

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

Links

Soft Palate Flashcards