Structure/Morphology
The mucosa of the soft palate is the posterior continuation of the mucosa of the hard palate as it slopes in a posteroinferior direction between the oral cavity and the nasopharynx. The uvula is an inferior projection of the posterior border of the soft plate.
Unlike the masticatory mucosa of the hard palate, the soft palate is lined with lining mucosa meaning that it is coated with a nonkeratinized epithelium.
Related parts of the anatomy
Key Features/Anatomical Relations
The anterior one third of the soft palate is primarily a rigid structure; however, the posterior portion is mobile. The uvula moves in a superoposterior direction to close the junction between the nasopharynx and the oropharynx during deglutition.
Function
The mucosa of the soft palate acts as a barrier against the external environment, such as preventing injury and microbial invasion.
Learn more about this topic from other Elsevier products
Soft Palate
The buccal flap procedure is a palatal lengthening procedure that introduces healthy tissue into the velum at the hard-soft palate junction and adds substantial length to the velum.
