SOFT PALATE AND PALATINE TONSIL

SOFT PALATE AND PALATINE TONSIL

Soft Palate

Soft palate is a flexible, muscular part of the palate that separates the nasal cavity and oral cavity. It is composed of two layers of mucous membrane, an underlying layer of smooth muscle, and a layer of fibers from the pterygoid muscles.

Key Features of Soft Palate:

• It is composed of two layers of mucous membrane.
• Underlying layer of smooth muscle.
• Fibers from pterygoid muscles.
• Separates nasal cavity and oral cavity.
• Formed from 5 muscles: palatoglossus, palatopharyngeus, uvularis, tensor veli palatini, and levator veli palatini.

Muscles of Soft Palate:

• Palatoglossus: elevates the tongue and the floor of the mouth.
• Palatopharyngeus: elevates the pharynx and the larynx.
• Uvularis: elevates the uvula.
• Tensor veli palatini: tenses the soft palate.
• Levator veli palatini: elevates the soft palate.

Blood Supply of Soft Palate:

• Artery: greater palatine artery.
• Vein: greater palatine vein.
• Nerve: greater palatine nerve.

Nerve Supply of Soft Palate:

• Greater palatine nerve: sensory nerve.
• Lesser palatine nerves: sensory nerves.
• Palatine branches of the pharyngeal plexus: motor nerves.

Palatine Tonsil

Palatine tonsil is an oval-shaped mass of lymphoid tissue located in the tonsillar fossa. It is covered by a mucous membrane and has a base, a capsule, a crypts, and a free edge.

Key Features of Palatine Tonsil:

• Oval-shaped mass of lymphoid tissue.
• Located in the tonsillar fossa.
• Covered by mucous membrane.
• Base, capsule, crypts, and a free edge.

Blood Supply of Palatine Tonsil:

• Branches of the facial artery and the ascending pharyngeal artery.

Nerve Supply of Palatine Tonsil:

• Nerve to the palatine tonsil: a branch of the glossopharyngeal nerve.
• Palatine branch of the vagus nerve: motor nerve.

Waldayer’s Lymphatic Ring:

• It is a ring-shaped lymphatic structure around the palatine tonsil.
• Arises from the junction of the facial and pharyngeal lymph nodes.
• Collects lymph from the palatine tonsil and other structures.

Applied Anatomy of Palatine Tonsil:

• It is a common site for infections and tumors.
• Tonsillectomy is the surgical removal of the palatine tonsil.
• Palatine tonsil plays a crucial role in the immune system.