Hard & Soft Palate Flashcards
Describe the features of hard palate (including its osteology)
- Anterior 3/4 formed by palatine process of maxilla, 1/4 by horizontal process of palatine bones
- Mucosa of hard palate has palatine rugae helping with movement to food
- Incisive papilla (anterior to rugae) overlying the incisive fossa [nasopalatine nerve & greater palatine artery pass through]
Describe the features of the soft palate
- No bony structures
- Muscular continuation of hard palate
- Separates oro- and naso- pharynx
- Uvula
What are some other landmarks of the bony palate?
- Vomer (midline of palate, most posteriorly)
- intermaxillary & interpalatine suture (runs down midline)
List the attachments & innervation of the muscles of the soft palate
Levator veli palatini:
Origin = Pharyngotympanic tube & temporal bone
Tensor veli palatini:
Origin = scaphoid fossa, spine of sphenoid & pharyngotympanic tube
Palatopharyngeus:
Origin = hard palate & palatine aponeurosis
Inserts = lateral wall of pharynx
Palatoglossus
Musculus uvulae:
Origin = posterior nasal spine & palatine aponeurosis
Insertion = Uvula
Innervation = ALL by vagus nerve (CN X) EXCEPT tensor veli palatini - Mandibular nerve (CN V3)
Describe the arterial supply of the soft & hard palate
Palate supplied with blood by greater & lesser palatine artery (branches of maxillary artery from ECA)
Greater palatine = hard palate
Lesser palatine = soft palate
Describe the innervation of the soft & hard palate
Originates from maxillary nerve (CN V2)
Greater palatine = hard palate (& gingiva to 1st Premolars)
Lesser palatine = soft palate
Where does the nasopalatine nerve originate from and then pass through to reach the palate?
From nasal cavity via the incisive fossa to supply anterior gingiva & mucosa
What are the fauces?
The space between the oral cavity & the pharynx (laterally bounded by the arches (called pillars of the fauces)
what are the boundaries of the fauces?
