23 - Hard and soft palate

Question 1

Describe the bony palate.

Answer 1

• anterior 3/4 formed by palatine process of maxilla
• posterior 1/4 formed by horizontal process of palatine bones
• incisive fossa sits in midline, posterior to central incisors
• palatine foramina allow for passage of neurovasuclar structures

Question 2

What are palatine rugae?

Answer 2

Mucosal folds in the anterior hard palate that aid the tongue when breaking down food

Question 3

What is the incisive papilla?

Answer 3

Mucosa that overlies the incisive fossa in the midline

Question 4

What epithelium lines the superior border of the hard palate?

Answer 4

• floor of nasal cavity
• respiratory ciliated columnar

Question 5

What epithelium lines the inferior border of the hard palate?

Answer 5

• roof of mouth
• oral mucosa, stratified squamous

Question 6

What is the function of the soft palate?

Answer 6

• close or separate the pharynx for respiration or digestion
• isthmus to the oropharynx

Question 7

What passes via the incisive canal and fossa?

Answer 7

• nasopalatine nerve
• greater palatine artery

Question 8

What is the palatine aponeurosis?

Answer 8

• supports the soft palate and its muscles
• attaches to the pterygoid hamulus (medial plate of pterygoid process)
• thins posteriorly and blends with the muscles of the soft palate

Question 9

What can be found on the surface of the palatine mucosa?

Answer 9

• palatine gland ducts
• some tastebuds in soft palate

Question 10

Where are the palatine tonsils located?

Answer 10

• in the tonsilar fossa between the fauces
• between the palatoglossal and palatopharyngeal arches

Question 11

What are the muscles of the soft palate?

Answer 11

• levator veli palatini
• tensor veli palatini
• palatopharyngeus
• palatoglossus
• musculus uvulae

Question 12

What is the origin and insertion of levator veli palatini?

Answer 12

Origin - pharyngotympanic tube and temporal bone
Insertion - palatine aponeurosis

Question 13

What is the origin and insertion of tensor veli palatini?

Answer 13

Origin - pharyngotympanic tube, scaphoid fossa and spine of sphenoid
Insertion - palatine aponeurosis

Question 14

What is the origin and insertion of palatopharyngeus?

Answer 14

Origin - hard palate and palatine aponeurosis Insertion - lateral wall of pharynx

Question 15

What is the origin and insertion of muculus uvulae?

Answer 15

Origin - posterior nasal spine and palatine aponeurosis
Insertion - uvula

Question 16

What is action of levator veli palatini?

Answer 16

Lift palate during swallowing and yawning

Question 17

What is action of tensor veli palatini?

Answer 17

Tenses palate and opens auditory tube for pressure exchange

Question 18

What is action of palatopharyngeus?

Answer 18

Acts on pharynx wall during swallowing

Question 19

What is action of muculus uvulae?

Answer 19

Move uvula

Question 20

What is the motor innervation of the muscles of the soft palate?

Answer 20

• vagus nerve
• EXCEPT tensor veli palatini supplied by CN V3

Question 21

What is the blood supply of the palate?

Answer 21

• greater palatine artery supplies the hard palate
• lesser palatine artery supplies the soft palate

Question 22

What is the venous drainage of the palate?

Answer 22

Venous drainage via the pterygoid venous plexus

Question 23

What is the general sensation innervation of the palate?

Answer 23

• all originates from CN V2
• soft palate supplied by lesser palatine nerve
• posterior hard palate (to 1st premolar) applied by greater palatine nerve
• anterior hard palate (3-3) supplied by nasopalatine nerve

Question 24

What is the function of the uvula?

Answer 24

• soft tissue projection from soft palate
• helps to create seal when swallowing to prevent bolus or liquids entering nasopharynx