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Objective: This study aimed to compare the nasopharynx and oropharynx airway dimensions of Caucasians, Blacks, Japanese, Japanese Brazilians, and Black Caucasians., Methods: A sample of 216 lateral radiographs of untreated young Brazilian subjects (mean age of 12.94 years; SD 0.88) were divided into five groups: Black Caucasian, Black, Caucasian, Japanese, and Japanese Brazilian. Lateral radiographs were used to measure the oropharynx (from the midpoint on the soft palate to the closest point on the anterior pharyngeal wall) and the nasopharynx (from the intersection of the posterior border of the tongue and the inferior border of the mandible to the closest point on the posterior pharyngeal wall). Analyses of variance (ANOVA) and Tukey's test were performed (p< 0.05)., Results: The linear dimension of the oropharynx was similar among the different ethnic groups. Caucasian individuals presented a significantly greater linear dimension of the nasopharynx than Black Caucasian and Black individuals., Conclusions: All the groups had similar buccopharyngeal values. However, Caucasian individuals had significantly higher values when compared to Black Caucasians and Black individuals.

This study aims to examine the relationship between the locations of Fovea Palatinae and the posterior vibrating line in different classes of soft palate angulation (House Classification), accordingly determine its reliability as a landmark and a tool for determining the posterior limit of the maxillary complete denture. 280 completely edentulous patients with normal healthy mucosa from both genders were randomly selected. The House classification of the soft palate angulation was identified and recorded as Class I, II, or III. Phonation was used to determine the position of the vibrating line. The Fovea Palatinae was then marked. Then, the distance between the Fovea Palatinae and the vibrating line was measured and recorded. Finally, the relative position of the Fovea Palatinae to the vibrating line was recorded as being anterior, posterior, or on the vibrating line. The Chi Square test, the effect size measures (Eta and Cramer's V tests), The Spearman's Rho rank correlation test, and multinominal logistic regression analysis were utilized to analyse the data. House classification percentages were measured among people whose Fovea Palatinae was detectable; Class II palate was the most prevalent (47.14%), followed by Class I (43.93%), and then Class III (8.93%). Based on vibrating line position, 129 (58%) had a vibrating line anterior to Fovea Palatinae, 57 (26%) on the Fovea Palatinae, 36 (16%) posterior to Fovea Palatinae, and in 58 (21%) Fovea Palatinae were not detected. The mean distance between the vibrating line and Fovea Palatinae was 3.66 ± 1.6 mm anteriorly and 2.97 ± 1.36 mm posteriorly. No significant differences were found between males and females in regard to House classification and vibrating line position. The odds of having the fovea posterior to the vibrating line would increase by 5% for each year increase in the age (P = 0.035, odds ratio = 1.050). Class II House classification of the soft palate was found to be the most prevalent among the study participants. Also, the vibrating line was anterior to the Fovea Palatinae in the majority of cases. The odds of having the fovea posterior to the vibrating line would increase by age. The Fovea Palatinae could be considered a useful guide for locating the vibrating line., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

The present study was carried out to study the morphology of the goat's soft palate and palatine tonsil by gross anatomy, morphometry, light and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Twelve heads of normal adult (18-24 months) apparently healthy goats of both sexes were collected from local commercial slaughterhouses in Qena Governorate, Egypt. The oral cavity was dissected, and samples were collected for both light and SEM. The soft palate of the goat formed the caudal continuation of the hard palate. It was relatively short, it extended from the level of the caudal border of the last upper molar tooth to terminate caudally against the base of the epiglottis. The oral mucous membrane of the soft palate was covered by non-keratinized stratified squamous epithelium. The lamina propria and submucosa contained connective tissue fibers, diffuse and nodular lymphatic tissue, striated muscle fibers, and a large number of mucous and serous palatine glands. By SEM, the ventral surface had several rounded openings occupied by flower-like structures. These openings represented the entrances to the palatine glands. The palatine tonsil was large and protruded from a fossa in the lateral wall of the oropharynx. It had 2-3 elongated irregular openings that lead to the underlying crypts. These crypts were well-developed and lined by non-keratinized stratified squamous epithelium. The epithelium of the tonsillar crypts directly covered lymphoid tissue and was infiltrated by lymphocytes. Tonsillar glands of pure mucous type were demonstrated. In conclusion, the study provides the basic morphological features of soft palate, as well as the palatine tonsil of the goat by gross observation, light and SEM. The palatine tonsils of goat were well-developed with extensive crypt system, suggesting their essential role in the immunological response against antigens that enter through the oral cavity. The current findings may be useful to understand the role of the palatine tonsil in immunity and disease pathogenesis. RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS: The study reported the basic morphological features of soft palate and palatine tonsil of goat. The ventral surface of the soft palate had several rounded openings occupied by flower-like structures. The palatine tonsils of goat were well-developed with extensive crypt system. The findings might help to understand the role of the palatine tonsil in immunity and disease pathogenesis., (© 2023 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Objective: There have been few studies on the anatomy of palatine aponeurosis (PA). Herein, we elucidated the relationship between the PA and soft palate muscles and pharyngeal muscles., Design: Two cadaveric specimens were dissected to observe the gross anatomy of the PA. Six cadaveric specimens were processed and scanned by micro-computed tomography to determine the elaborate anatomy. Images were exported to Mimics software to reconstruct a three-dimensional model., Results: The PA covered the anterior (32.1%-38.8%) of the soft palate, extending from the tensor veli palatini (TVP) and connecting to 3 muscles: palatopharyngeus (PP), uvula muscle, and superior pharyngeal constrictor (SC). The SC and PP are attached to the PA on the medial side of the pterygoid hamulus. SC muscle fibers were attached to the hamulus, forming a distinct gap between the hamulus. Some muscle fibers of the PP and uvula originated from the PA. The PA extended from the TVP to the midline and the posterior edge of the hard palate. The PA was not uniformly distributed, which was complementary to the attached muscles in thickness., Conclusions: PA, as a flexible fibrous membrane, maintains the shape of the soft palate. It extends from the TVP and covers anteriorly about one-third of the soft palate. The PA provides a platform for the soft palate muscles and pharyngeal muscles, connecting to the PP, uvula muscle, and SC. These muscles are important for palatopharyngeal closure and middle-ear function. It is necessary to minimize the damage to the PA during surgical interventions.

Background: The soft palate anatomy of individuals can have a range of morphologies. Cephalometric analysis is a low-cost approach to analyze the soft palate in patients with or without developmental abnormalities., Methods: The lateral cephalogram of the patients visiting Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital, Institute of Medicine for various dental treatment purposes was evaluated. The soft palate was delineated on the radiographs by sketching the soft palate's contour along its radiolucent outline using the curve lines and connectors of Microsoft PowerPoint. The soft palate was then categorized according to the study by You M et al. Results: The different types of soft palate morphology observed in the study were rat tail (42.4%), leaf-like (40.8%), butt-like shape (8.9%), straight-line (4.7%), s-shaped (1.9%), and crooked (0.9%). The males had rat-tail (44.4%), leaf-like (41.1%), butt-like shape (8.4%), straight-line (3.9%), s-shaped (1.3%), and crooked (0.6%), whereas the females had rat-tail like (40.6%), leaf-like (40.6%), butt-like shape (9.5%), straight-line (5.6%), s-shaped (2.5%), and crooked (1.2%) types of soft palate., Conclusions: The rat-tail form of the soft palate was the most prevalent, followed by the leaf-like in both sexes. The least common type was the crooked form. This study found no evidence of sexual dimorphism.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine the surgical impact of the pedicled buccal fat pad (BFP) flap on the levator veli palatini (LVP) muscle and surrounding velopharyngeal (VP) anatomy following primary palatoplasty using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)., Design: Observational, prospective., Setting: MRI studies were completed at 3 different facilities. All participants with BFP flap were operated on by the same surgeon., Participants: Five pediatric participants with cleft palate with or without cleft lip (CP±L) who underwent primary palatoplasty with BFP flap placement. Comparison groups consisted of 10 participants: 5 with CP±L who did not receive the BFP flap and 5 healthy controls., Interventions: All participants underwent nonsedated MRI 2 to 5 years postoperatively., Main Outcomes and Measures: Anatomical measures of the velopharynx and LVP among the 3 participant groups., Results: Median values were significantly different among groups for velar length ( P = .042), effective velar length ( P = .048), effective VP ratio ( P = .046), LVP length ( P = .021), extravelar LVP length ( P = .009), and LVP origin-origin distance ( P = .030). Post hoc analysis revealed a statistically significant difference between the BFP and traditional repair groups for effective VP ratio ( P = .040), extravelar LVP length ( P = .033), and LVP length ( P = .022)., Conclusions: This study provides preliminary support that the BFP flap creates a longer velum, with increased distance between the posterior hard palate and the LVP, and a larger effective VP ratio compared to traditional surgical techniques. Future research is needed to determine whether this procedure provides a more favorable mechanism for VP closure.