Soft Palate (Noun)
Meaning
A muscular flap that closes off the nasopharynx during swallowing or speaking.
Classification
Nouns denoting body parts.
Examples
- The soft palate is a movable flap of tissue that separates the oral cavity from the nasal cavity.
- During swallowing, the soft palate elevates to close off the nasopharynx and prevent food from entering the nasal cavity.
- The soft palate plays a crucial role in speech production, particularly in the articulation of sounds such as "ng" and "g".
- Damage to the soft palate can lead to difficulties with speech and swallowing, as well as nasal regurgitation of food.
- The soft palate is innervated by the vagus nerve, which controls its movement and function.