Hard palate
The
hard palate is a thin horizontal
bony plate of the
skull, located in the roof of the mouth. It spans the arch formed by the upper
teeth. It forms a partition between the nasal passages and the
mouth. This partition is continued deeper into the mouth by a fleshy extension called the
soft palate.
The interaction between the
tongue and the hard palate is essential in the formation of certain
speech sounds, notably /t/, /d/, /c/, and /ɟ/.
In the
birth defect called
cleft palate, the left and right portions of this plate are not joined, forming a gap between the mouth and nasal passage (a related defect affecting the face is
cleft lip). Cleft palate has a severe impact upon the ability to
nurse and speak but is now cured through reconstructive
surgical procedures at an early age (where such procedures are available).
*
Soft palate*
Palate*
Maxilla
