palatopharyngeal arch; posterior pillar of fauces; posterior palatine arch; pharyngopalatine arch; palatopharyngeal fold

Introduction

One of a pair of ridges or folds of mucous membrane that pass downward from the posterior margin of the soft palate to the lateral wall of the pharynx.

• encloses the palatopharyngeus muscle
• forms the posterior margin of the tonsillar fossa
• demarcates the isthmus of fauces from the oropharynx

More general terms

• anatomic arch
• tongue