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 .
Distal means farthest away, and proximal means closest to. In the picture, the left side of the wound (represented as being closed with duct tape) is distal to the heart, and the right side is proximal to the heart. by James Hubbard, M.D., M.P.H.In medical terminology, distal and proximal, or distally and proximally, describe anatomical locations. Proximal means closest to, and distal means farthest away. With reference to a wound on an arm, distal to the wound would be past the wound toward the fingers.Proximal to the wound would be from the wound toward the shoulder. On the leg, the toes are the most distal, the hip the most proximal.The knee is proximal to the ankle; the elbow is proximal to the wrist.istal means farthest away, and proximal means closest to. In the picture, the left side of the wound (represented as being closed with duct tape) is distal to the heart, and the right side is proximal to the heart. by James Hubbard, M.D., M.P.H.