[Velopharyngeal insufficiency. Anatomo-physiological aspects].

Palatopharyngeal insufficiency is an important syndrome in Phoniatrics and speech pathology. The anatomy, physiology and pathophysiology of the velopharyngeal mechanism, as well as the nature of the speech and associated problems are described. The chemical diagnostic and instrumental evaluations are briefly enumerated. Major emphasis is placed on the radiographic assessment. A scheme with the etiological categories in both congenital and acquired palatopharyngeal insufficiency is presented.