The palatoglossal arch (glossopalatine arch, anterior pillar of fauces) on either side runs downward,

lateral Lateral is a geometric term of location which may also refer to: Biology and healthcare * Lateral (anatomy), a term of location meaning "towards the side" * Lateral cricoarytenoid muscle, an intrinsic muscle of the larynx * Lateral release ( ...

(to the side), and forward to the side of the

base of the tongue The tongue is a muscular organ in the mouth of a typical tetrapod. It manipulates food for chewing and swallowing as part of the digestive process, and is the primary organ of taste. The tongue's upper surface (dorsum) is covered by taste buds h ...

, and is formed by the projection of the

glossopalatine muscle The palatoglossal muscle is a muscle of the soft palate and an extrinsic muscle of the tongue. Its surface is covered by oral mucosa and forms the visible palatoglossal arch. Structure From its origin, it passes anteroinferiorly and laterally. It ...

with its covering

mucous membrane A mucous membrane or mucosa is a membrane that lines various cavities in the body of an organism and covers the surface of internal organs. It consists of one or more layers of epithelial cells overlying a layer of loose connective tissue. It ...

. It is the anterior border of the

isthmus of the fauces The fauces (also termed the isthmus of fauces or oropharyngeal isthmus) is the opening at the back of the mouth into the throat. It is a narrow passage between the velum and the base of the tongue. The fauces is a part of the oropharynx directly ...

and marks the border between the

mouth A mouth also referred to as the oral is the body orifice through which many animals ingest food and animal communication#Auditory, vocalize. The body cavity immediately behind the mouth opening, known as the oral cavity (or in Latin), is also t ...

and the

palatopharyngeal arch The palatopharyngeal arch (pharyngopalatine arch, posterior pillar of fauces) is larger and projects further toward the middle line than the palatoglossal arch; it runs downward, lateralward, and backward to the side of the pharynx, and is formed b ...

. The latter marks the beginning of the

pharynx The pharynx (: pharynges) is the part of the throat behind the human mouth, mouth and nasal cavity, and above the esophagus and trachea (the tubes going down to the stomach and the lungs respectively). It is found in vertebrates and invertebrates ...

References

External links

* * Palate {{anatomy-stub