The major past of the roof of the mouth is formed by the hard palate in the front, and the solf palate or velum at the back. The solf palate us a muscular flap that can be raised so as to shut off nasal tract and prevent air from going out through the nose. When it is raised so that the solf palate is pressed against the back wall of the pharynx there is said to be a velic closure. At the lower end of the soft palate is a small hanging appendage know as the uvula