Richard Fleeting, age 12, of Barre, Vt., for his question.

WHAT IS THE SOFT PALATE?

Palate is name used to describe the roof of the mouth. The palate has two parts: the soft palate and the hard palate. The soft palate is the section of the mouth's roof in the back toward the throat while the hard palate is in front.

The hard palate is composed of the palatine bones and parts of the maxilary bones. It is covered with a mucous membrane.

The soft palate, on the other hand, is a fold of muscular tissue covered by a mucous membrane. During swallowing, the soft palate rises and blocks off the entrance to the rear nasal passage. A projection called the uvula hangs from from the middle of the soft palate.

 Only    mammals and crocodiles have palates like humans. In other animals, the base of the skull serves as the roof of the mouth. Fishes, amphibians and reptiles may have teeth growing on the palate. Amphibians use the palate to aid in breathing.