380 HEAD AND NECK 



of the cricoid cartilage. This is the narrowest part of the 

 pharynx. 



Velum Palatinum. The soft palate is a movable curtain, 

 which projects downwards and posteriorly into the pharynx. 

 During deglutition it is raised, and helps to shut off the 

 nasal part of the pharynx from the portion below. Anteriorly, 

 it is attached to the posterior margin of the hard palate ; on 

 each side it is connected with the lateral wall of the pharynx ; 

 whilst posteriorly it presents a free border. From the centre 

 of this free margin the conical process, termed the uvula, 

 projects ; whilst the sharp concave part of the border, on either 

 side of the uvula, becomes continuous with the pharyngo- 

 palatine arch, which descends on the side wall of the pharynx. 

 The upper surface of the soft palate is convex and continuous 

 with the floor of the nasal cavities ; the inferior surface is 

 concave and forms part of the vaulted roof of the mouth. 

 From the posterior part of this surface on each side a glosso- 

 palatine arch curves downwards ; and along its median plane 

 may be seen a slightly marked median ridge or raphe. 



The soft palate is composed of a fold of mucous membrane, 

 between the two layers of which are interposed muscular, 

 aponeurotic, and glandular structures, together with blood 

 vessels and nerves. 



The two levatores veli palatini. 



The two tensores veli palatini. 

 Palatal muscles, . -f The two glosso-palatini. 



The two pharyngo-palatini. 



The musculus uvulae. 

 Palatal aponeurosis. 

 Palatal glands. V 



{Ascending palatine from external maxillary. ^ 

 Palatine branch from ascending pharyngeal. 

 Twigs from the descending palatine branch of the internal 

 maxillary. 



{Middle palatine, . .^ 



Posterior palatine, . . I from the spheno - palatine 

 Branches from pharyngeal j ganglion, 

 plexus, . . . . J 



The racemose mucous glands in the soft palate form a very 

 thick layer, immediately subjacent to the mucous membrane 

 which clothes its inferior surface. Close to the posterior 

 border of the hard palate the soft palate contains very few 

 muscular fibres; there it is composed chiefly of the two 

 layers of mucous membrane enclosing the glands, and the 

 palatal aponeurosis. 



