-Roof of mouth and floor of nasal cavity

-Division of oral and nasal portions of pharynx

-Arched transversely and anteroposteriorly 

-Two parts: anterior2/3=hard palate 

posterior 1/2=soft palate 

Hard Palate

-Formed by palatine processes of maxilla/palatine

-Foramina: Incisive, greater/lesser palatine

-Contains palatal glands

-Mucoperiosteum presents median raphe and several transverse palatine folds, rugae

-Moveable, fibromuscular fold

-Suspends from posterior edge of hard palate

-Laterally attached to walls of pharynx 

-has 2 lateral folds arching downward

-framework formed by aponeuerosis of tensor veli palatini muscle

-Function: close off nasopharynx from oropharynx in speech and swallowing

Muscles of Soft Palate 

Palatoglossus (anterior arch)

-Origin: palatine aponeurosis

-Insertion: side of tongue

-Action: elevates posterior portion of tongue

Muscles of Soft Palate

Palatopharyngeus

-origin: palatine aponeurosis

-Insertion: side of pharynx 

-Action: elevates walls of pharynx upward, elevates larynx 

Muscles of Soft Palate

Levator veli palatini

-origin: scaphoid fossa, auditory tube

-Insertion: palatine aponeurosis 

-Action: tenses soft palate

Muscles of soft palate

tensor veli palatini

-origin: scaphoid fossa, auditory tube

-insertion: palatine aponeurosis

-Action: tenses soft palate 

Muscles of soft palate

Musculus Uvulae 

Innervation of palate 

Motor

-all by CN XI via X (pharyngeal plexus)

-except tensor veli palatini m (CN V3)

Innervation of palate

Sensory

-All from maxillary n (CN V2)

-Greater palatine n (hard palate) 

-Lesser palatine n. (soft palate)

-Nasopalatine n.(Anterior hard palate) 

Blood supply of the palate

-Greater and lesser palatine arteries (maxillary a)

-Ascending palatine artery (facial a)

Palatine Tonsils

Overview

-Lymphoid tissue

-Lies between palatoglossal and palatopharyngeal folds

-Varies in size and site of inflammation

-Part of tonsillar circle(Waldeyer's Wing)

Palatine Tonsils

Blood supply

-Facial a: 1. Tonsillar branch (primary)

2. Ascending palatine a

-Ascending pharyngeal a

-Lesser Palatine a (from maxillary a)

-Dorsal lingual a

Palatine Tonsils 

Innervation 

Retromolar Triangle

-behind 3rd mandibular molar

-Bounded by medial and lateral alveolar crests

-At apex, posteriorly attaches to the pterygomandibular raphe

Retromolar Region Relationships

Key Structure, lateral, posterior, medial, inferior

-Key Structure: Pterygomandibular raphe

-Lateral: Buccinator m

-Posterior: Superior constrictor m.

-Medial: Palatoglossal arch

-Inferior: Styloglossus m, lingual n., sublingual gland

NOTE: KEY TO Inferior Alveolar N Block