498 ORGANS OF DIGESTION. 



per surface, it, when detached, will have many elevations; while 

 on the lower there will be corresponding excavations, which to 

 superficial observation give it the appearance of being cribri- 

 form. 



The tongue is supplied with arteries, principally from the lin- 

 gual branch of the carotid, and with nerves from the hypo-glos- 

 sal, the fifth pair, and the glosso-pharyngeal. The former is 

 supposed to be exclusively appropriated to its muscular move- 

 ments, and the two latter to its sensations. Its faculty of taste 

 seems to be most active at the tip; on the sides, and near the 

 middle, behind, it is inconsiderable. The soft palate seems also 

 to participate in the function of taste. 



CHAPTER IV. 



OF THE PALATE. 



THE Palate (Palatum) is composed at its anterior part of the 

 palatine processes of the superior maxillary and palatine bones, 

 covered above by the pituitary membrane, and below by the 

 lining membrane of the mouth. This portion of it is the hard 

 palate, and separates the mouth from the nose. Behind it is a 

 membranous portion called the soft palate, which separates par- 

 tially the mouth from the upper part of the pharynx. 



That part of the lining membrane of the mouth which covers 

 the hard palate, has a hard cartilaginous feel, and is not so vas- 

 cular or sensible as other parts. It has a ridge in its centre just 

 beneath the middle palate suture, and from each side of it there 

 are transverse ridges extending to the alveolar processes. This 

 arrangement is more evident at its anterior part, and in middle- 

 aged persons; in the old it is faint, and frequently does not exist 

 when the alveoli are gone. Beneath this membrane, particular- 

 ly at its posterior part, the muciparous glands are very abundant 

 and closely set against each other, so as to form a perfect layer, 

 extending itself upon the front of the soft palate, and making one 

 half of its thickness. 



The Soft Palate (Velum Pendulum Palati) has on oblong shape, 



