palate

The palate, or the roof of the mouth, is a structure that forms the barrier between the oral cavity and the nasal passages. It plays a key role in chewing, swallowing, and speech, and it helps separate the two cavities during respiration and articulation.

The palate has two main parts. The hard palate is the anterior, bony portion formed by the maxilla and palatine bones. It provides a rigid surface against which the tongue can press during speech and eating, and it contains ridges called rugae. The soft palate, or velum, is the flexible, muscular posterior portion that terminates in the uvula. It can move to close off the nasal cavity from the oral cavity during swallowing and to regulate airflow during speech.

Innervation and blood supply of the palate come predominantly from branches of the maxillary nerve. The hard palate receives sensory input via the greater palatine nerves, while the soft palate is served by the lesser palatine nerves. Arterial supply is mainly from the greater and lesser palatine arteries, with venous drainage to the pterygoid plexus and facial veins. Lymphatic drainage flows to surrounding deep cervical nodes.

Developmentally, the palate forms as the primary and secondary palates separate the oral and nasal cavities; the secondary palate fuses during early fetal life. Disruptions in fusion can result in cleft palate, a common congenital anomaly that may affect feeding, speech, and hearing if not treated.

Clinically, palatal abnormalities can affect articulation, resonance, and swallowing. Minor variants such as a bifid uvula are usually benign but can signal underlying developmental issues in some cases.