Anatomy of Palate

Anatomy of Palate

• The palate forms a division between the nasal and oral cavities.
• It is separated into two distinct parts: hard palate and soft palate.

Hard Palate

• The hard palate is comprised of bone and is immobile.
• It forms the anterior aspect of the palate.
• The underlying bony structure is composed of: • Palatine processes of the maxilla • Horizontal plates of the palatine bones
• There are three main foramina/canals in the hard palate: • Incisive canal: located in the anterior midline, transmits the nasopalatine nerve and descending palatine artery • Greater palatine foramen: located medial to the third molar tooth, transmits the greater palatine nerve and vessels • Lesser palatine foramina: located in the pyramidal process of the palatine bone, transmits the lesser palatine nerve

Soft Palate

• The soft palate is located posteriorly and is mobile and comprised of muscle fibers covered by a mucous membrane.
• It is continuous with the hard palate and palatine aponeurosis anteriorly.
• The posterior border of the soft palate is free and has a central process that hangs from the midline (the uvula).
• The soft palate forms the roof of the fauces, an area connecting the oral cavity and the pharynx.
• Two arches bind the palate to the tongue and pharynx: the palatoglossal arches anteriorly and the palatopharyngeal arches posteriorly.

Muscles of the Soft Palate

• There are five muscles that give the actions of the soft palate, all innervated by the pharyngeal branch of the vagus nerve (CN X) except Tensor veli palatini.
• Tensor Veli Palatini: • Attachments: medial pterygoid plate of the sphenoid and palatine aponeurosis • Function: Tenses the soft palate
• Levator Veli Palatini: • Attachments: petrous temporal bone and the eustachian tube, and palatine aponeurosis • Function: Elevation of the soft palate
• Palatoglossus: • Attachments: palatine aponeurosis and side of the tongue • Function: Pulls the soft palate towards the tongue
• Palatopharyngeus: • Attachments: palatine aponeurosis and hard palate, and upper border of the thyroid cartilage • Function: Tenses soft palate and draws the pharynx anteriorly on swallowing
• Musculus Uvulae: • Attachments: posterior nasal spine and palatine aponeurosis, and mucous membrane of the uvula • Function: Shortens the uvula

Blood Supply of the Palate

• Arterial supply primarily from the greater palatine arteries, which run anteriorly from the greater palatine foramen.
• Additional collateral supply is provided by the anastomosis between the lesser palatine artery and ascending palatine artery.
• Venous drainage is into the pterygoid venous plexus.