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Questions and Answers
What is the function of the soft palate described in the passage?
What muscles are involved in forming Passavant's Ridge?
Palatopharyngeus
The tensor veli palatini muscle is innervated by the mandibular nerve.
True
The _ separates the nasopharynx from the oropharynx.
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What is the function of the soft palate?
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What is the name of the conical projection that hangs from the middle of the soft palate?
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The anterior fold of the soft palate is called the palatoglossal arch or ______ pillar of fauces.
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Match the following muscles with their corresponding function:
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Study Notes
Soft Palate Structure
- A movable, muscular fold suspended from the posterior border of the hard palate
- Separates the nasopharynx from the oropharynx, controlling the passage of food and air
Boundaries and Projections
- Inferior border is free and bounds the pharyngeal isthmus
- Uvula is a conical projection that hangs from the middle of the soft palate
- Palatoglossal arch (anterior pillar of fauces) extends from the base of the uvula, containing the palatoglossus muscle
- Palatopharyngeal arch (posterior pillar of fauces) extends from the base of the uvula, containing the palatopharyngeus muscle
Components
- Palatine aponeurosis (fibrous basis of the palate) contains the tensor veli palatini muscle
- Muscles of the soft palate:
- Tensor palati (tensor veli palatini)
- Levator palati (levator veli palatini)
- Musculus uvulae
- Palatoglossus
- Palatopharyngeus
- Mucous glands and taste buds are present
- Epithelium is derived from the ectoderm of the maxillary process
- Muscles are derived from the 1st, 4th, and 6th branchial arches
Nerve Supply
- Motor nerves:
- Pharyngeal plexus (derived from cranial part of the accessory nerve through the vagus) supplies all muscles except tensor veli palatini
- Mandibular nerve supplies tensor veli palatini
- General sensory nerves:
- Middle and posterior lesser palatine nerves (branches of the maxillary nerve through the pterygopalatine ganglion)
- Glossopharyngeal nerve
- Special sensory (gustatory) nerves carrying taste sensations from the oral surface:
- Lesser palatine nerves → greater petrosal nerve → geniculate ganglion of the facial nerve → nucleus of the tractus solitarius
- Secretomotor nerves:
- Lesser palatine nerves → greater petrosal nerve → superior salivatory nucleus
Passavant's Ridge
- Formed by the upper fibers of the palatopharyngeus muscle, which pass circularly deep to the mucous membrane of the pharynx
- On contraction, raises a ridge on the posterior wall of the nasopharynx, closing the pharyngeal isthmus between the nasopharynx and oropharynx
Blood Supply
- Arteries:
- Greater palatine branch of maxillary artery
- Ascending palatine branch of facial artery
- Palatine branch of ascending pharyngeal artery
- Veins: drain into the pterygoid and tonsillar plexuses of veins
- Lymphatics: drain into the upper deep cervical and retropharyngeal lymph nodes
Soft Palate Structure
- A movable, muscular fold suspended from the posterior border of the hard palate
- Separates the nasopharynx from the oropharynx, controlling the passage of food and air
Boundaries and Projections
- Inferior border is free and bounds the pharyngeal isthmus
- Uvula is a conical projection that hangs from the middle of the soft palate
- Palatoglossal arch (anterior pillar of fauces) extends from the base of the uvula, containing the palatoglossus muscle
- Palatopharyngeal arch (posterior pillar of fauces) extends from the base of the uvula, containing the palatopharyngeus muscle
Components
- Palatine aponeurosis (fibrous basis of the palate) contains the tensor veli palatini muscle
- Muscles of the soft palate:
- Tensor palati (tensor veli palatini)
- Levator palati (levator veli palatini)
- Musculus uvulae
- Palatoglossus
- Palatopharyngeus
- Mucous glands and taste buds are present
- Epithelium is derived from the ectoderm of the maxillary process
- Muscles are derived from the 1st, 4th, and 6th branchial arches
Nerve Supply
- Motor nerves:
- Pharyngeal plexus (derived from cranial part of the accessory nerve through the vagus) supplies all muscles except tensor veli palatini
- Mandibular nerve supplies tensor veli palatini
- General sensory nerves:
- Middle and posterior lesser palatine nerves (branches of the maxillary nerve through the pterygopalatine ganglion)
- Glossopharyngeal nerve
- Special sensory (gustatory) nerves carrying taste sensations from the oral surface:
- Lesser palatine nerves → greater petrosal nerve → geniculate ganglion of the facial nerve → nucleus of the tractus solitarius
- Secretomotor nerves:
- Lesser palatine nerves → greater petrosal nerve → superior salivatory nucleus
Passavant's Ridge
- Formed by the upper fibers of the palatopharyngeus muscle, which pass circularly deep to the mucous membrane of the pharynx
- On contraction, raises a ridge on the posterior wall of the nasopharynx, closing the pharyngeal isthmus between the nasopharynx and oropharynx
Blood Supply
- Arteries:
- Greater palatine branch of maxillary artery
- Ascending palatine branch of facial artery
- Palatine branch of ascending pharyngeal artery
- Veins: drain into the pterygoid and tonsillar plexuses of veins
- Lymphatics: drain into the upper deep cervical and retropharyngeal lymph nodes
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Description
Learn about the soft palate, its functions, and structure. Discover how it separates the nasopharynx from the oropharynx and regulates the flow of food and air.
