Both the rugae and incisive papilla are susceptible to trauma—mainly burns from hot food. Treatment is palliative and usually involves avoiding further insult to tissues until healing is complete.

(Photo: trauma to hard palate)

The soft palate stretches posteriorly from the hard palate. The descending pendulum of tissue from the midline of the soft palate is the uvula. Immediately posterior to the hard palate, at the junction of the soft palate, are the palatine fovea, which are small pits or depressions at the midline.

(Photo: normal junction of hard and soft palate)