The hard palate is a thin horizontal bony plate of the skull, located in the roof of the mouth. It spans the arch formed by the upper teeth. It forms a partition between the nasal passages and the mouth. This partition is continued deeper into the mouth by a fleshy extension called the soft palate.

The interaction between the tongue and the hard palate is essential in the formation of certain speech sounds, notably /t/, /d/, /c/, and /ɟ/.

Cleft

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In the birth defect called cleft palate, the left and right portions of this plate are not joined, forming a gap between the mouth and nasal passage (a related defect affecting the face is cleft lip). Cleft palate has a severe impact upon the ability to nurse and speak but is now cured through reconstructive surgical procedures at an early age (where such procedures are available).

See also

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• Soft palate
• Palate
• Maxilla

Mouth