Editing Soft palate (section)

==Structure==

===Muscles===
[[File:Gray1028.png|thumbnail|Dissection of the muscles of the palate from behind.]]

The five muscles of the soft palate play important roles in swallowing and breathing. The muscles are: 
# [[Tensor veli palatini]], which is involved in [[swallowing]]
# [[Palatoglossus]], involved in [[swallowing]]
# [[Palatopharyngeus]], involved in [[breathing]]
# [[Levator veli palatini]], involved in [[swallowing]]
# [[Musculus uvulae]], which moves the [[palatine uvula|uvula]]

These muscles are innervated by the [[pharyngeal plexus of vagus nerve|pharyngeal plexus]] via the [[vagus nerve]], with the exception of the [[tensor veli palatini]]. The tensor veli palatini is innervated by the [[mandibular division of the trigeminal nerve]] (V<sub>3</sub>).<ref name=GRAYS2005>{{cite book|last=Drake|first=Richard L.|title=Gray's anatomy for students|year=2005|publisher=Elsevier/Churchill Livingstone|location=Philadelphia|isbn=978-0-8089-2306-0|author2=Vogl, Wayne |author3=Tibbitts, Adam W.M. Mitchell  |author4=illustrations by Richard |author5= Richardson, Paul |page=1000}}</ref>