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Medical Definition of Glossopalatine arch
1. One of a pair of ridges or folds of mucous membrane passing from the soft palate to the side of the tongue; it encloses the palatoglossus muscle and forms anterior margin of the tonsillar fossa. Also demarcates oral cavity from isthmus of fauces. Synonym: arcus palatoglossus, anterior palatine arch, anterior pillar of fauces, arcus glossopalatinus, glossopalatine arch, glossopalatine fold. (05 Mar 2000)