Palatopharyngeus muscle

Palatopharyngeus muscle

Dissection of the muscles of the palate from behind (palatopharyngeus muscle labeled as pharyngopalatinus labeled at top center, below choanae)
Details
Origin Palatine aponeurosis and hard palate
Insertion Upper border of thyroid cartilage (blends with constrictor fibers)
Artery Facial artery
Nerve Pharyngeal branch of vagus nerve
Actions Pulls pharynx and larynx upward
Identifiers
Latin Musculus palatopharyngeus
Dorlands
/Elsevier
m_22/12550054
TA A05.2.01.105
FMA 46666

Anatomical terms of muscle

The palatopharyngeus (palatopharyngeal or pharyngopalatinus) muscle is a small muscle in the roof of the mouth.

It is a long, fleshy fasciculus, narrower in the middle than at either end, forming, with the mucous membrane covering its surface, the palatopharyngeal arch.

Structure

It is separated from the palatoglossus muscle by an angular interval, in which the palatine tonsil is lodged. It arises from the soft palate, where it is divided into two fasciculi by the levator veli palatini and musculus uvulae.

Passing lateralward and downward behind the palatine tonsil, the palatopharyngeus joins the stylopharyngeus and is inserted with that muscle into the posterior border of the thyroid cartilage, some of its fibers being lost on the side of the pharynx and others passing across the middle line posteriorly to decussate with the muscle of the opposite side.

Innervation

Motor innervation of this muscle is provided through the pharyngeal plexus of the CN X (vagal nerve), SVE fibers. Palatopharyngeus is innervated by cranial part of the accessory nerve via the pharyngeal plexus

Function

The palatine velum is slightly raised by the levator veli palatini and made tense by the tensor veli palatini; the palatopharyngeus muscles, by their contraction, pull the pharynx upward over the bolus of food and nearly come together, the uvula filling up the slight interval between them.

By these means the bolus is prevented from passing into the nasopharynx; at the same time, the palatopharyngeus muscles form an inclined plane, directed obliquely downward and backward, along the under surface of which the bolus descends into the lower part of the pharynx.

Additional images

References

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

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