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Infant hard and soft palates

Infant hard and soft palates

Overview

The roof of the mouth is comprised of the hard palate and the soft palate. These structures separate the nasal cavity from the mouth.

Review Date 11/1/2021

Updated by: Anna C. Edens Hurst, MD, MS, Associate Professor in Medical Genetics, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.