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
  • 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

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


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