Palate - Definition and Overview

The palate is the roof of the mouth in humans and vertebrate animals. The palate is divided into two parts, the anterior bony hard palate, and the posterior fleshy soft palate or velum. The name is probably derived from the Latin palatum.

When functioning in conjunction with other parts of the mouch the palate produces certain sounds, particularly velar, palatal, palatalized, postalveolar, and alveolo-palatal consonants. It plays a role in a guttural consonants, together with the throat, tongue, and uvula.