<Tr> <Td_colspan="2"> Anatomical terminology (edit on Wikidata) </Td> </Tr> <P> The hard palate is a thin horizontal bony plate of the skull, located in the roof of the mouth . It is formed by the palatine process of the maxilla and horizontal plate of palatine bone, and spans the arch formed by the upper teeth . </P> <P> The hard palate is formed by the palatine process of the maxilla and horizontal plate of palatine bone . It forms a partition between the nasal passages and the mouth . On the anterior portion of the roof of the hard palate are the plicae, irregular ridges in the mucous membrane that help facilitate the movement of food backwards towards the larynx . This partition is continued deeper into the mouth by a fleshy extension called the soft palate . </P> <P> The hard palate is important for feeding and speech . Mammals with a defective hard palate may die shortly after birth due to inability to suckle (see Cleft palate below). It is also involved in mastication in many species . The interaction between the tongue and the hard palate is essential in the formation of certain speech sounds, notably palatal consonants such as / j / and / ɟ / . </P>

Where are the hard and soft palate located