Blood supply in the developing and post natal rat soft palate.

Foetal and post natal rats were perfused with a carbon suspension and cleared in methyl salicylate to display the blood supply of the developing and formed hard and soft palates. The arterial blood supply of the soft palate was from the pharyngeal artery, a branch of the pterygopalatine artery; and from the tonsillar artery, a branch of the external maxillary artery. The pharyngeal artery could be recognised from 14 days post insemination and reached its adult configuration on the 17th day p.i. The tonsillar artery was seen from the 18th day. In the hard palate the blood supply was as described by other authors.