THE PALATE 



•.>43 



THE PALATE 



The palate consists of two portions, the anterior or hard })ahite, and tlie ])<).st>- 

 rior or soft palate. 



The hard palate, which is Hmited in front and laterally by tlie alveolur 

 I>roeesses, ends posteriorly in a free border to wliieh the soft palate is attached. 



The mucons membrane which covers it is corru<jrated, thick and somewhat pale, 

 and is linnly bound down to its periosteum. In the median line of the palate is a 



Fig. 558a. — Palato-glossus Muscle, seen from thp: Moith, with Section of Base ok 



ToX(JlE. 



Palato-glossus 



Genio-hyoglossua 



ridge called the raphe; at tiic anterior extremity of tiiis is a small ])ai)illa which 

 marks the inferior opening of the anterior palatme canal, and extending from its 

 sides, anteriorly, are five or six transverse ridges. The mucous rneml^rane cover- 

 ing the hard palate receives its nerve-supply from the anterior palatine and naso- 

 palatine nerves. 



The SOFT PALATE (fig. 560) is attached to the posterior border of the hard 

 palate, of which it forms a backward prolongation hanging down at the back of the 

 mouth, and thus partially separating the latter cavity from the })harynx. Its si<les 

 are merged in the })harvngeal wall, and its lower l)order is free. 



From the centre of this border a somewhat conical process, the uvula, de]->ends, 

 and from tlie base of this two folds of mncous memln'ane on each side extend in ;in 

 outward and downwaid direction, receiving the name of the pillars of the fauces. 



The anterior pillar is formed ])rinci})ally l)y the jialato-glossus muscle, and 

 its directi(ni is downwards, outwards, and forwards to the side of the base of tlie 

 tongue. 



The posterior pillar is formed principally i>y the palato-pharyngeus. It 

 a]>proaclie.< nioie nenrly to its fellow of the opposite side than does tlie anterior. 

 Its direction is outwards, downwards, and backwnrds. and tliere thus exists lietween 

 it and the anterior pillar a triangular space, the tonsillar recess. 



The space l)etween the anterior pillars is known as tlie isthmus of the fauces, 

 and forms the buccal opening of the ]»harynx. It is bounded below by the tnnguf. 

 above 1)V the soft palate, and laterally by the pillars of the fauces. 



The anterior surface of the soft palate is concave, directed forwards an<l 

 downwards, and is continuous with the lower surface of the hard palate; its 



