soft palate

the portion of the roof of the mouth that extends rearward from the hard palate and terminates at a fleshy appendage, the uvula. Consisting of fibromuscular tissue covered by mucous membrane, it separates the oral cavity from the nasopharynx and, when raised, closes off the nasopharynx to produce normal speech sounds. Also called velum palatinum.

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Psychology term of the day

January 30th 2025

Katz Index of Activities of Daily Living

an observer-based measure of the functional status of older adults and individuals with chronic disorders. An individual is rated on the degree of assistance required to perform six basic functions: bathing, dressing, feeding, toileting, transferring, and continence. Baseline measurements provide useful feedback when compared to periodic or subsequent measurements. Also called Katz Index of Independence in Activities of Daily Living. [originally developed in 1963 by Sidney Katz (d. 2012), U.S. physician and geriatrician]