SOFT PALATE

It is a movable, muscular fold, suspended from the posterior border of the hard palate. It separates the nasopharynx from the oropharynx and acts as a traffic controller at the crossroads between the food and air passage.

FEATURES:

It has two Surfaces (anterior and posterior) and two borders (superior and inferior).

Two Surfaces:-

Anterior Surface:- It is concave and is marked by a median raphe.

Posterior surface:- It is concave and is continuous with the floor of the nasal cavity.

Two Borders:-

Superior Borders:- It is attached to the posterior border to the hard palate, blending on each side with the pharynx.

Inferior Border:-
  • It is free and bound the pharyngeal isthmus.
  • From it's middle, there hangs a conical called the uvula.
  • At the base of the uvula two folds of mucus membrane run downwards laterally.
  • The Anterior fold Is called the Palatoglossal arch.
  • It contains the palatoglossus muscles and forms the lateral boundary of the oropharyngeal isthmus.

STRUCTURE:

The soft palate is a fold of mucus membrane containing:- 
  • The Palatine aponeurosis which is then flattened tendon of the tensor veli Palatine forms the fibrous basis of the palate. Near the median the plane, the aponeurosis splits to enclose the muscular uvuale.
  • The levator Palatine lies on the superior surface of Palatine aponeurosis.
  • The Palatoglossus lies on the inferior surface of the Palatine aponeurosis.
  • Numerous Mucous glands and same taste buds are also present. 

MUSCLE OF SOFT PALATE:-

  1. Tensor veli Palatini.
  2. Levator Palatini. 
  3. Musculus uvulae.
  4. Palatoglossus.
  5. Palatopharyngeus. 

BLOOD SUPPLY:-

It is supplied by:- 
  • Greater Palatine branch of the maxillary artery.
  • Ascending Palatine branch Facial Artery.
  • Palatine branch of ascending pharyngeal artery.

VENOUS DRAINAGE:

They pass to the pterygoid and Tonsillar plexus of the vein.

NERVE SUPPLY:

Motor Nerve- All Muscle of soft Palate except Tensor Palatini are supplied by pharyngeal plexus. The Tensor Palatini is supplied by the Mandibular nerve.

Sensory Nerve- Glossopharyngeal Nerve.

LYMPHATIC DRAINAGE:-

It drains into the upper deep cervical lymph nodes.

FUNCTIONS:- 

  • It closes the mouth from oropharynx during chewing so that air passage not affected.
  • It separates Nasopharynx from oropharynx during swallowing so that food does not enter the nose.
  •  It maintains the quality of the voice.

APPLIED ANATOMY:-

Paralysis or weakness of soft palate due to injury in the pharyngeal plexus of vagus nerve produces-
  • Nasal regurgitation of liquid.
  • Nasal twings in voice.
  • Flattening of the palatal arch.
  • Deviation of the uvula. 

Passavant's Ridge:-

Some of the upper fibers of palatopharyngeus muscles pass circularly deep to the Mucous membrane of the pharynx and form a sphincter internal to the superior construction. These fibers form the PASSAVANT'S RIDGE. When the soft Palate is elevated it comes in contact with the ridge and the two will close the pharyngeal isthmus.