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25, 50 & 75 years ago

The palate develops from fusion of a median and two lateral palatine processes of foregut mesoderm. This occurs in an anteroposterior direction in the second and third months of gestation. The soft palate fusion follows, but is in continuity with that of the hard palate. The tonsil fossa develops from the second pharyngeal pouch, and the palatine tonsil from migration of lymphocytes into this region after the third month. The anatomy of these two parts of the formed palate is quite different, consistent with their respective functions. The epithelial lining and lymphatics, however, are continuous across the junction of hard and soft palate and across the midline in each part. The mucosa of the soft palate and posterior half of the hard palate is rich in minor salivary glands. The soft palate is a complex fibromuscular organ which forms the roof and lateral walls of the oropharynx. The tensor and levator palatini muscles converge on the palatal aponeurosis from their origins at the skull base. The palatoglossus and palatopharyngeus muscles diverge from the aponeurosis to blend with the tongue and pharynx respectively. The palatine tonsil is nestled between these two muscles and lies on the medial surface of the superior constrictor muscle. There is epithelial continuity from the posterior oropharyngeal wall across the palatine arches and tonsil, to the tongue and buccal mucosa. The dense lymphatics of the tonsil drain to the upper deep cervical nodes as do those of the palate.