page_title: Soft palate
section_title: Muscles
hierarchical_section_title: Soft palate / Structure / Muscles
caption_attribution_description: Dissection of the muscles of the palate from behind.
context_page_description: The soft palate is, in mammals, the soft tissue constituting the back of the roof of the mouth. The soft palate is part of the palate of the mouth; the other part is the hard palate. The soft palate is distinguished from the hard palate at the front of the mouth in that it does not contain bone.
context_section_description: The five muscles of the soft palate play important roles in swallowing and breathing. The muscles are: 
  Tensor veli palatini, which is involved in swallowing
  Palatoglossus, involved in swallowing
  Palatopharyngeus, involved in breathing
  Levator veli palatini, involved in swallowing
  Musculus uvulae, which moves the uvula
  These muscles are innervated by the pharyngeal plexus via the vagus nerve, with the exception of the tensor veli palatini. The tensor veli palatini is innervated by the mandibular division of the trigeminal nerve (V₃).
caption: Dissection of the muscles of the palate from behind.
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