VAN 221: Veterinary Splanchnology and Applied Anatomy (1+1)

SOFT PALATE (PALATUM MOLLE)
(Ox, Sheep & Goat, Horse,Pig, Dog, Rabbit, Fowl)

Ox

• The soft palate is a musculomembranous partition, which separates the mouth from that of the pharynx except during deglutition
• It slopes obliquely downward and backward from the hard palate. It presents two surfaces and two borders
• The oral or cranial surface faces downwards and forward and is covered with mucous membrane continuous with that of the hard palate
• Numerous fine ducts of the palatine glands open on this face
• This oral mucous membrane detaches on either side a short thick fold passes to the lateral border of the tongue and these are the cranial pillars of the soft palate
• The pharyngeal surface faces backward and upward and is covered with mucous membrane continuous with that of the pharynx
• The free or inferior border is concave, and this is in contact with the epiglottis except during deglutition
• This border is continued on each side by a fold of mucous membrane, which passes to the lower part of the lateral wall of the pharynx called the caudal pillars of the soft palate
• The space between the cranial and caudal pillars on either side is deeply concave -the tonsillar sinus containing a bean shaped tonsil
• The tonsil projects outwards and does not occupy the tonsillar sinus, so it is not actually visible in the mouth cavity, as in the dog or horse

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Species difference

Sheep and Goat

• It resembles ox 

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Horse

• It is very long and well developed being about 6" in length. It closes the isthmus faucium along with the epiglottis and hence in equidae oral breathing is not possible and in vomiting, the ejected matter escapes through the nose
• There is no compact tonsil but a mass of lymphoid tissue
• The caudal pillars unite over the beginning of the oesophagus

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Pig

• It is very thick. It is entirely horizontal
• It has a small median prolongation termed the uvula
• The oral surface presents a median furrow, on either side of which is an oval raised area marked by numerous crypts and the elevations are the tonsils

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Dog

• It is thick
• The tonsillar sinus is large and tonsil is well developed. It is red, about an inch long and is concealed between two folds of mucous membrane
• The caudal pillar is double on either side; the upper fold passes to the dorsal wall of pharynx and lower fold to the side of the epiglottis

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Rabbit

• The soft caudal portion of the mouth is not supported by the bone

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Fowl

• The soft palate is absent

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