From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. The soft palate (also known as velum or muscular palate) is, in mammals, the soft tissue constituting the back of the roof of the mouth. The soft palate is distinguished from the hard palate at the front of the mouth in that it does not contain bone.rom Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. The soft palate (also known as velum or muscular palate) is, in mammals, the soft tissue constituting the back of the roof of the mouth. The soft palate is distinguished from the hard palate at the front of the mouth in that it does not contain bone.
Proximal: Toward the beginning, the nearer of two (or more) items. For example, the proximal end of the femur is part of the hip joint, and the shoulder is proximal to the elbow.The opposite of proximal is distal.For a more complete listing of terms used in medicine for spatial orientation, please see the entry to  Anatomic Orientation Terms .or example, the proximal end of the femur is part of the hip joint, and the shoulder is proximal to the elbow. The opposite of proximal is distal. For a more complete listing of terms used in medicine for spatial orientation, please see the entry to  Anatomic Orientation Terms .
Something that is proximal is situated closest to the point of attachment or origin. In medicine, it means closest to the center of the body. The opposite of proximal is distal and these terms are also used in geology. If you're talking about the proximal lava beds, you mean the ones closest to where the volcano erupted. Proximal is related to proximity, which means nearness, and approximate, which means close to the original. Definitions of proximal.