====== SOFT PALATE  ======


  * Soft palate 
    * movable muscular fold 
    * suspended from roof of mouth 
      * posterior border of hard palate 
    * separates nasopharynx from oropharynx 
    * surfaces 
      * anterior ( oral surface) 
        * concave 
        * marked by a median raphe 
      * posterior 
        * convex 
        * continuous superiorly with 
        * floor or nasal cavity
    * borders 
      * superior 
        * attached to posterior border of hard palate 
        * blending on each side with pharynx
      * inferior 
        * free 
        * from middle 
          * hangs a conical projection 
            * uvula 
              * each side of base of uvula 
                * two curved folds of mucous membrane extend laterally and downward 
                  * anterior fold 
                    * palatoglossal arch or anterior pillar of fauces 
                      * palatoglossus muscle 
                    * forms the lateral boundary of oropharyngeal isthmus or isthmus of fauces
                  * posterior fold 
                    * palatopharyngeal arch or posterior pillar of fauces 
                      * contains palatopharyngeus muscle 
                    * forms posterior boundary of tonsillar fossa 
                    * merges inferiorly with lateral wall of pharynx 
    * Structure 
      * it is a fold of mucous membrane 
      * parts 
        * palatine aponeurosis 
          * flattened tendon of tensor veli palatini 
            * forms fibrous basis of palate 
          * near median plane aponeurosis splits to enclose 
            * musculus uvulae 
          * superior surface 
            * Levator veli palatini and palatine aponeurosis lie on this surface 
          * inferior or anterior surface 
            * palatoglossus muscle 
        * numerous glands and some taste buds are present 
    * Muscles of soft palate 
      * Tensor palati ( tensor veli palatini ) 
      * Levator palati ( Levator Veli palatini ) 
      * Musculus Uvulae  
      * Palatoglossus 
      * Palatopharyngeus 
    * Nerve supply 
      * All muscles of soft palate except tensor veli palatini 
        * pharyngeal plexus 
          * derived from cranial part of accessory nerve through vagus 
      * tensor veli palatini supplied by 
        * mandibular nerve 
      * General sensory nerves 
        * middle and posterior lesser palatine nerves 
          * branches of maxillary nerve 
            * through pterygopalatine ganglion 
          * glossopharyngeal nerve 
      * Special sensory or gustatory nerves 
        * taste sensations from oral surface 
    * PASSAVANT'S RIDGE 
      *