The soft palate (palatum molle) is a duplication of the mucous membrane in which muscles are lodged together with a fibrous plate, the palatine aponeurosis, as well as glands  Its anterior margin is attached to the posterior edge of the hard palate, while the posterior part of the soft palate (velum palatinum) extends freely downward and to the back and has on the midline a tongue-like projection, the uvula.

     Laterally, the soft palate is continuous with folds, or arches.  The anterior palatoglossal arch (arcus palatoglossus) passes to the lateral surface of the tongue, the posterior palatopharyngeal arch CPC papers focuses on these.