What Is the Function of the Hard Palate in Pigs?
The main function of the hard palate in pigs is to aid in the digestion of food, as a pig does not have as much teeth and as flexible of a tongue as other animals. The hard palate is made up of ridges and is located on the roof of the mouth, which separates the oral and nasal cavities; this makes it possible to eat and breathe simultaneously.
The hard palate in pigs is part of the oral cavity and function primarily to separate the nose and mouth. Most mammals contain hard palates, according to Dictionary, which all serve the same function. However, the hard palate in humans also enables humans to make certain sounds of speech. A pig’s hard palate is notably longer than the ones found in humans.
The soft palate is located even further back in the pig’s mouth than the hard palate and is made up of softer, muscular tissues. The hard palate and soft palate are considered to be components in both the respiratory system and the digestive system. Other components of the respiratory in the oral cavity include the epiglottis, glottis, trachea and larynx. When breathing, the pig inhales through its nose. The air flows down the nasal passage to the pharynx, which is the space that connects the mouth and nose to the esophagus, and then to the glottis and trachea.
