[Durgical](https://durgical.com/en/) › [DurgiPedia](https://durgical.com/en/durgipedia/) › [Anatomy](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/) › [Head and neck](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/region/head-and-neck/) › Soft palate [Digestive system](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/system/digestive-system/) · [Head and neck](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/region/head-and-neck/) # Soft palate The soft palate is the muscular back part of the roof of the mouth, ending in the uvula; it rises to close off the nose when swallowing and speaking. [See in 3D →](https://durgical.app/?from=durgipedia&lang=en#region=head_neck&select=soft_palate&side=r) Opens in the Durgical app, no sign-up needed. ## What it is The muscular back part of the roof of the mouth, ending in the uvula. ## What it does Rises to close off the nose when swallowing and speaking. ## Key points - In swallowing it rises and tenses against the back wall of the [pharynx](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/pharynx/) (Passavant ridge) to seal off the nasopharynx; if this fails, food and liquid come out of the nose - Five muscles shape it: tensor and levator veli palatini, musculus uvulae, palatoglossus and palatopharyngeus (the last two form the arches around the tonsil) - Gag reflex: touching the back of the tongue or the pharynx (afferent IX) raises the palate and squeezes the pharynx (efferent X) - The tensor veli palatini opens the [auditory tube](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/auditory-tube/) when swallowing; it works poorly in cleft palate, so middle ear effusions are common ## Key facts **Where** Back of the roof of the mouth, ending in the uvula **Blood supply** Lesser palatine, ascending palatine arteries **Nerve** Motor X (tensor veli palatini: V3); sensory V2 **Function** Closes the nasopharynx when swallowing and speaking; uvula deviates away from a vagus lesion ## Relations **In front** Hard palate: the palatine aponeurosis attaches to the back edge of the [palatine bone](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/palatine-bone/) **Above** Nasopharynx, with the openings of the auditory tubes and the adenoids **Below** Oral cavity and the dorsum of the [tongue](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/tongue/) **Lateral** Palatoglossal and palatopharyngeal arches running down to the tongue and the pharyngeal wall, with the [palatine tonsil](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/palatine-tonsil/) between them ## How to find it With the mouth open and the tongue held down, saying 'aah' lifts the soft palate; it should rise evenly with the uvula in the midline. ## Examination - Saying 'aah': in a one-sided [vagus nerve](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/vagus-nerve/) lesion the palatal arch droops on the weak side and does not rise - Gag reflex, tested on each side: an absent response on one side suggests a lesion of the glossopharyngeal or vagus nerve ## On imaging On a lateral neck radiograph and sagittal MRI it is the soft-tissue band hanging back from the hard palate. Videofluoroscopy or nasendoscopy watch it rise against the back wall of the pharynx; a gap during speech or swallowing (velopharyngeal insufficiency) lets air or contrast into the nasopharynx. Contrast CT shows a peritonsillar abscess pushing into it, and MRI stages tumours here. ## Clinical notes - Cleft palate: feeding problems with milk coming out of the nose, hypernasal speech and middle ear effusions; repaired in infancy by a cleft team - Submucous cleft: bifid uvula, a notch at the back of the hard palate and a thin bluish midline; recognising it matters before adenoidectomy, which can unmask nasal speech - Velopharyngeal insufficiency after cleft repair or adenoidectomy causes hypernasal speech and nasal air escape ## Anatomical variants - A bifid uvula on its own is a common and usually harmless finding; it matters when it comes with the other signs of a submucous cleft ## Development The palatal shelves grow toward the midline and fuse from front to back with the primary palate and the [nasal septum](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/nasal-septum/); the uvula fuses last, so a bifid uvula is the mildest form of cleft. ## Related conditions - [Peritonsillar abscess](https://durgical.com/en/conditions/peritonsillar-abscess/) - [Obstructive sleep apnoea](https://durgical.com/en/conditions/obstructive-sleep-apnoea/) - [Cleft lip and palate](https://durgical.com/en/conditions/cleft-lip-and-palate/) - [Trisomy 18 (Edwards) and trisomy 13 (Patau)](https://durgical.com/en/conditions/trisomy-18-and-trisomy-13/) ## Test yourself Think of the answer, then tap the question to see it. ## What is the motor nerve supply of the soft palate, and which muscle is the exception? The vagus nerve (X) via the pharyngeal plexus; the tensor veli palatini is supplied by the mandibular nerve (V3). ## What are the afferent and efferent limbs of the gag reflex? Afferent: glossopharyngeal nerve (IX) from the back of the tongue or pharynx; efferent: vagus nerve (X), which raises the soft palate and squeezes the pharynx. ## Which way does the uvula deviate in a one-sided vagus nerve lesion? Away from the lesion: the palatal arch droops on the weak side and does not rise on saying «aah». ## Why are middle ear effusions common in cleft palate? The tensor veli palatini, which opens the auditory tube when swallowing, works poorly in cleft palate. ## What are the signs of a submucous cleft palate, and why do they matter before adenoidectomy? Bifid uvula, a notch at the back of the hard palate and a thin bluish midline; adenoidectomy can unmask hypernasal speech. [Add to my cards (5)](https://durgical.app/estudiar/?add=/en/anatomy/soft-palate/) Educational information, not medical advice. For any symptom, see a health professional. ## Its names **Official Latin (TA2)** palatum molle TA2 2780 **Official Spanish (DeCS)** Paladar Blando DeCS D010160 **English (TA2)** Soft palate **Also called** velum ## Related - [Palatine tonsils](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/palatine-tonsil/) - [Vagus nerve](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/vagus-nerve/) Sources: Terminologia Anatomica (TA2); [DeCS](https://decs.bvsalud.org/es/ths/resource/?id=10347&filter=ths_termall&q=Palate,%20Soft); [Anatomy, Head and Neck, Palate](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK557817/); [Anatomy, Head and Neck, Tensor Veli Palatini Muscle](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK544302/). ## **Spotted a mistake?** We are always improving for the community. Tell us what is wrong and our team will review it. Report a mistake Representative model, for educational purposes only. --- Source: https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/soft-palate/ License: CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Cite as: DurgiPedia (durgical.com), https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/soft-palate/