Hard And Soft Palate

Question 1

What bones make up the hard palate?

Answer 1

Palatine process of maxilla (anterior 3/4)

Horizontal process of palatine bones (posterior 1/4)

Question 2

Give some features of the hard palate mucosa

Answer 2

Palatine rugae - folds on hard palate

Incisive papilla - overlies incisive fossa

Question 3

What is the soft palate? What is its function?

Answer 3

Muscular continuation of the hard palate that acts to close the oropharyngeal isthmus or separate the oro- and naso- pharynx

Question 4

Label

Answer 4

Incisive fossa
Inter maxillary suture
Greater and lesser palatine foramina
Pterygoid hamulus
Posterior nasal spine
Vomer
Medial and lateral plate of pterygoid process
Horizontal and pyramidal of palatine bone
Interpalatine suture
Groove for greater palatine vessels
Palatine process of maxilla

Question 5

What is the soft palate made up of? Where does it extend to?

Answer 5

Extends from the posterior border of the hard palate.

It is strengthened by the palatine aponeurosis that is attached to the posterior border and the pterygoid hamuli either side (hamuli = hook)

Then superficially has a muscular and a mucosal part

Question 6

What sits deep to the palatine mucosa? What feature of the mucosa is connected?

Answer 6

Palatine salivary glands

Palatine mucosa salivary ducts

Question 7

What are the muscles of the soft palate, what nerve innervates which?

Answer 7

Levator veli palatini

Tensor veli palatini

Palatoglossus

Palatopharyngeus

Motor control is all vagus minus tensor veli palatini which is V3

Question 8

What vessels supply the palate?

Answer 8

Greater and lesser palatine artery

From the maxillary artery

Via greater and lesser palatine foramen

Also branches of ascending palatine artery of facial artery

Question 9

What nerves supply general sensation to palate?

Answer 9

V2

Lesser palatine nerve is soft palate

Greater palatine is hard palate and gingiva to first premolar

Nasopalatine nerve comes through incisive fossa and innervates the incisors and canines

Question 10

Of the two oral arches, which is posterior and which is anterior? What causes them?

Answer 10

Palatopharyngeal arch is posterior and is caused by the palatopharyngeus muscle

The palatoglossus arch is anterior and is caused by the palatoglossus muscle

Question 11

What is the uvula and its function?

Answer 11

Soft tissue projection that helps create a seal when swallowing to prevent food or liquid entering nasopharynx

Question 12

What is the isthmus of the faucets?

Answer 12

The gap between the palatopharyngeus muscle and the palatoglossus muscle

This is where the palatine tonsils are found - in the tonsillar fossae