Palate

The palate forms the roof of the mouth and is made up of a hard surface in the front and a soft surface in the back. The "hard palate" is formed by the maxillary bones in the front and the horizontal portions of the palatine bones in the back. The "soft palate" forms a muscular arch that extends back and down as a cone-shaped projection called the "uvula." During swallowing, muscles draw the soft palate and the uvula upward. This action closes the opening between the nasal cavity and the pharynx, preventing food from entering the nasal cavity.