Levator veli palatini

The levator veli palatini (/lɪˈvtər ˈvl ˌpæləˈtn/) is the elevator muscle of the soft palate in the human body. It is supplied via the pharyngeal plexus. During swallowing, it contracts, elevating the soft palate to help prevent food from entering the nasopharynx.

Levator veli palatini
Dissection of the muscles of the palate from behind. (Caption for Levator veli palatini visible at right, second from the top.)
External and middle ear, opened from the front. Right side. (Levator veli palatini visible at bottom right.)
Details
Origintemporal bone, Eustachian tube
Insertionpalatine aponeurosis
Arteryfacial artery
NervePharyngeal Branch of Vagus (CN X)
Actionselevates soft palate
Identifiers
Latinmusculus levator veli palatini
TA98A05.2.01.102
TA22128
FMA46727
Anatomical terms of muscle

Structure

The levator veli palatini muscle is found in the soft palate of the mouth. It arises from the under surface of the apex of the petrous part of the temporal bone, and from the surface inferolateral to the medial lamina of the cartilage of the Eustachian tube. It does not connect with the medial lamina.[1] It passes above the upper concave margin of the superior pharyngeal constrictor muscle. It spreads out in the palatine velum, its fibers extending obliquely downward and medially to the middle line, where they blend with those of the opposite side. It lies lateral to the choana.

Nerve supply

The levator veli palatini muscle is supplied by the pharyngeal plexus, which is supplied by the vagus nerve (CN X).

Function

The levator veli palatini muscle elevates the soft palate during swallowing. This helps to prevent food from entering the nasopharynx. Its action may be slightly slower than its partner, the tensor veli palatini muscle.[1]

Additional images

References

This article incorporates text in the public domain from page 1139 of the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)

  1. Ishijima, Ken; Sando, Isamu; Miura, Makoto; Balaban, Carey D.; Takasaki, Kenji (2002-06-01). "Functional Anatomy of Levator Veli Palatini Muscle and Tensor Veli Palatini Muscle in Association with Eustachian Tube Cartilage". Annals of Otology, Rhinology & Laryngology. 111 (6): 530–536. doi:10.1177/000348940211100609. ISSN 0003-4894.
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