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How does the soft palate separate the nasopharynx from the oropharynx?

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Illustration showing different animals and their respiratory organs: a spider with book lungs, a chicken with lungs, a sponge with labeled inflow and outflow pores, a fish with gills, and a caterpillar with spiracles. — Respiratory system Different methods of respiration in animals.

The soft palate acts as a flexible partition that separates the nasopharynx from the oropharynx.1

During the act of swallowing, the soft palate is pulled upward and backward to press against the posterior pharyngeal wall. By elevating in this manner, it effectively blocks the nasal cavity and the nasopharynx from the oral cavity and the oropharynx. This movement is essential for preventing food and other substances from entering the nasal passages and helps create the necessary pressure within the oral cavity to protect the respiratory tract.2