From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. The soft palate (also known as velum or muscular palate) is, in mammals, the soft tissue constituting the back of the roof of the mouth. The soft palate is distinguished from the hard palate at the front of the mouth in that it does not contain bone.rom Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. The soft palate (also known as velum or muscular palate) is, in mammals, the soft tissue constituting the back of the roof of the mouth. The soft palate is distinguished from the hard palate at the front of the mouth in that it does not contain bone.
Proximal: Toward the beginning, the nearer of two (or more) items. For example, the proximal end of the femur is part of the hip joint, and the shoulder is proximal to the elbow.The opposite of proximal is distal.For a more complete listing of terms used in medicine for spatial orientation, please see the entry to  Anatomic Orientation Terms .or example, the proximal end of the femur is part of the hip joint, and the shoulder is proximal to the elbow. The opposite of proximal is distal. For a more complete listing of terms used in medicine for spatial orientation, please see the entry to  Anatomic Orientation Terms .
A proximal site is one closer to the point of attachment to the trunk, while a distal position is farther from the trunk. For example the knee joint is situated at the distal end of the femur and the proximal end of the tibia. And the ankle joint is distal to both the hip and knee joints. Thus the wrist is distal to the elbow. You should be able to see now that it is awkward to ask Is the elbow distal or proximal to the wrist? when both are distal to the shoulder, the wrist being more distal than the elbow. 4.5k Views Â· 1 Upvote