1.568 



HUMAN ANATOMY. 



Just behind the incisors, at or before the incisor canal, there is a small raised 

 pad or fold of mucous membrane, on either side of which the orifice of the incisor 

 canal is often found. When pervious, it is very minute, admitting merely a bristle. 

 Behind this the palate presents a median raphe of paler color than the rest, which may 



Fig. 



1325- 





Orifices of palatine glands 



Incisor pad with orifice of incisor 



Raphe 



Mucous membrane removed to 

 show layer of glands 



Soft palate ^\ 



Uvula 



Superior dental arch and palate ; palatal rugae occupy anterior part. Soft palate partially cut away. 



run to the root of the uvula or may stop short of it, being often deflected to the left. 

 A little behind the pad this line may be interrupted by a pale oval elevation or more 

 often a depression. The membrane of the roof of the mouth is nowhere bright red ; 

 that of the hard palate, however, is paler than the rest. There are no glands in the 

 oval white space, but there is a continuous layer on either side of it. The orifices of 

 the glands are easily seen with a lens, sometimes with the naked eye. A little in 



Fig. 1326. 



Soft palate 



Supratonsillar fossa 

 Uvula 



Muscular fibres of tongue 



Dorsal surface of tongue 



Anterior pillar of fauces 



Plica triangularis 



Posterior pillar of fauces 



Epiglottis 



Tonsil 



Sagittal section through palate, uvula, and tongue, showing right lateral wall of fauces ; tongue has been pulled 



downward by hook. 



front of the origin of the soft palate the mucous membrane becomes deeper colored. 

 These differences in color are more striking in children. 



The Soft Palate. — This structure consists of a fold of mucous membrane, con- 

 tinuous with the hard palate, enveloping several layers of interlacing muscular fibres, 

 at least i cm. in thickness at its origin. Its lower border is the edge of the fold. 



