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The palate (/ ˈ p æ l ɪ t /) is the roof of the mouth in humans and other mammals.It separates the oral cavity from the nasal cavity. [1] A similar structure is found in crocodilians, but in most other tetrapods, the oral and nasal cavities are not truly separated.
A speech sound made with the middle part of the tongue (dorsum) touching the soft palate is known as a velar consonant. It is possible for the soft palate to retract and elevate during speech to separate the oral cavity (mouth) from the nasal cavity in order to produce the oral speech sounds.
The hard palate is a thin horizontal bony plate made up of two bones of the facial skeleton, located in the roof of the mouth. The bones are the palatine process of the maxilla and the horizontal plate of palatine bone. The hard palate spans the alveolar arch formed by the alveolar process that holds the upper teeth (when these are developed).
The mouth is also subject to sudden changes in temperature and pH meaning it must be able to adapt to change quickly. The mouth is the only place in the body which provides the sensation of taste. Due to these unique physiological features, the oral mucosa must fulfil a number of distinct functions.
In human anatomy, the mouth is the first portion of the alimentary canal that receives food and produces saliva. [2] The oral mucosa is the mucous membrane epithelium lining the inside of the mouth. In addition to its primary role as the beginning of the digestive system, the mouth also plays a significant role in communication.
The raphe is a surface feature overlying - and indicating - the intermaxillary suture, and median palatine suture. [1]: 114-115 The greater palatine foramen may be palpated on either side about half way between the palatine raphe, and the palatal gingival margin of the 2nd or 3rd upper molar tooth.
The mouth has evolved to support chewing, (mastication) and swallowing (deglutition), and speech (phonation). In addition to the teeth, other structures that aid chewing are the lips, cheeks , tongue , hard palate , soft palate , and floor of the mouth.
In human anatomy of the mouth, the palatine process of maxilla (palatal process), is a thick, horizontal process of the maxilla. It forms the anterior three quarters of the hard palate, the horizontal plate of the palatine bone making up the rest. It is the most important bone in the midface.