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Soft Palate
By: Tim Barclay, PhD
Medically reviewed by: Stephanie Curreli, MD, PhD
Last Updated: Dec 15, 2016
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.
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