| secondary palate | The posterior portion of the embryonic palate, which forms from the palatal processes of the embryonic maxilla and develops into the hard palate. (05 Mar 2000) |
|---|---|
| soft palate | The muscular part of the roof of the mouth. The soft palate is directly behind the hard palate. It lacks bone and so is soft. (12 Dec 1998) |
| tensor muscle of soft palate | <anatomy> Tensor muscle of soft palate, musculus tensor palati; musculus palatosalpingeus; musculus sphenosalpingostaphylinus; dilator tubae; origin, scaphoid fossa of sphenoid, cartilaginous and membranous part of auditory (eustachian) tube and spine of sphenoid; insertion, posterior border of hard palate and aponeurosis of soft palate; action, tenses the soft palate; contributes to opening of auditory tube; nerve supply, branches of trigeminal nerve through the otic ganglion. Synonym: musculus tensor veli palatini, dilator tubae, musculus palatosalpingeus, musculus sphenosalpingostaphylinus, musculus tensor palati, palatosalpingeus, tensor muscle of soft palate. (05 Mar 2000) |
| elevator muscle of soft palate | <anatomy, muscle> Origin, apex of petrous portion of temporal bone and lower part of cartilaginous auditory (eustachian) tube; insertion, aponeurosis of soft palate; action, raises soft palate; through the expansion of its fleshy belly during contraction, it helps to "push" open the auditory tube; nerve supply, pharyngeal plexus (cranial root of accessory nerve). Synonym: musculus levator veli palatini, elevator muscle of soft palate, levator palati muscle, musculus levator palati, musculus petrostaphylinus. (05 Mar 2000) |
| falling palate | Relaxation or elongation of the uvula. Synonym: falling palate, staphylodialysis, staphyloptosis, uvulaptosis. Origin: uvulo-+ G. Ptosis, a falling (05 Mar 2000) |