Hard Palate

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BACK TO ORAL CAVITY - ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY

Introduction

The hard palate (palatum durum) forms the rostral roof of the oral cavity. It merges caudally with the soft palate where a connective tissue aponeurosis replaces the bone.

Structure and Function

  • Bony shelf of palatine processes of the incisive, maxillary and palatine bones. Failure of the palatine bones to fuse results in cleft palate.
  • 6-8 fixed transverse ridges to direct food caudally
  • Flat
  • Incisive papilla (small median swelling) behind incisive teeth
  • Smaller papillae ducts branching to nasal cavity and veromeronasal organ


Histology

Hard Palate (Mouse) - Copyright RVC 2008
  • Thick mucosa
  • keratinised stratified squamous epithelium


Species Differences

Herbivores

  • More heavily keratinised in herbivores

Links

Pathology of Cleft Palate