Anatomical structures around the palate | The palate

Anatomical structures around the palate

The following structures can be distinguished anatomically:

  • The hard and the soft palate
  • The soft palate
  • The palatal tonsils
  • The uvula
  • The palatal arch
  • Palatal Musculature

The palate is part of the upper jaw bone (maxilla) and is divided into two sections. The hard palate (Palatum durum) and the soft palate (Palatum molle). The front part of the palate is the hard palate.

It consists of the following bony structures: the intermaxillary bone (Os incisivum) and the palatal bone (Os palatinum). In the area of the hard palate, the bone is firmly attached to the mucosa lying on it and cannot be moved against it. The mucosa of the hard palate merges directly into the gum (gingiva) at the sides.

The hard palate extends approximately to the height of the third molars. From here the hard palate merges directly into the soft palate. The soft palate is the back part of the palate.

It is mobile. The soft palate includes the velum palatinum and the uvula. The soft palate consists of a connective tissue plate into which three muscles also radiate.

These muscles are the muscle tensor veli palatini, the muscle levator veli palatini and the muscle palatopharyngeus (forms the palatal arch). The soft palate, also known as the soft palate, together with the hard palate, forms the boundary between the mouth and the nasal cavity, and delimits the oral cavity backwards towards the throat. The transition between the hard palate and soft palate is called the Ah line, because it becomes visible when the vowel “A” is spoken.

The soft palate consists largely of muscles, connective tissue and mucous membranes, whereby the muscles are of great importance for the swallowing process. The soft palate is pressed against the back wall of the throat by contraction of the muscles and closes the upper airways. Thus, it represents an important barrier between the air and food passages.

The soft palate is also involved in speech formation by raising and lowering it. The soft palate also contains smaller glands that produce saliva together with other glands. At the side of the soft palate, two double folds emerge, which form the so-called palatal arches.

The palatal tonsil is a paired organ located between the front and back palatal arches. They are thus located at the transition between mouth and throat and belong to the lymphatic pharyngeal ring. As a lymphatic organ, it serves the immune system and thus the defense against pathogens.

It is usually the size of an almond, although it is enlarged in the case of inflammation. Like the entire oral cavity, it is covered by mucous membrane, which extends into the deep indentations of the surface of the palatal tonsil. In these wrinkles food remains can collect, which are colonized by bacteria.

White blood cells are also often found here. The contact between the environment and the body’s immune system is an important effect for the functioning of the immune system. The food residues that collect in the folds on the surface of the palatine tonsil are excreted at regular intervals.

This so-called detritus or tonsil stone is often mistakenly perceived by laymen as tonsillitis. However, this does not necessarily indicate an inflammation, but is completely normal without other complaints.The uvula is a soft tissue process of the soft palate and is located in the middle of the free side of the palate. This allows it to oscillate around and, like the soft palate, is involved in speech formation.

The shape is formed by a muscle which is covered by mucous membrane. In addition, the mucosa contains touch-sensitive receptors that can trigger the nausea stimulus. These receptors serve to detect foreign bodies and represent a protective mechanism against swallowing objects.

The palatal arches are formed by two mucosal folds, both originating from the soft palate. The posterior palatal arch extends from there to the throat, while the anterior palatal arch ends at the side of the base of the tongue. Between these two mucous membrane folds is the palatal tonsil.

They are also involved in speech formation, swallowing and nausea. The soft palate tensioner (Musculus tensor veli palatini) tenses the soft palate and can thus lower it. This muscle is also responsible for opening the Eustachian tube (Tuba auditiva) when yawning, for example.

The palatal elevator (Musculus levator veli palatini) can lift the soft palate. The musculus palatopharyngeus forms the palatal arch and supports the pharyngeal muscles during swallowing. The soft palate, which makes up the soft palate, is a soft tissue fold.

This consists of the muscles, connective tissue and mucous membrane. At the rear end of the soft palate, it describes a double arch. In the middle of this arch hangs the uvula.

This is visible when the mouth is wide open. At the rear end of the soft palate is the throat or pharyngeal narrowing (isthmus faucium). This forms the transition from oral cavity to pharynx. The pharyngeal cavity is formed by the base of the tongue and the soft palate including the uvula.