The levator veli palatini () is a
muscle
Muscle is a soft tissue, one of the four basic types of animal tissue. There are three types of muscle tissue in vertebrates: skeletal muscle, cardiac muscle, and smooth muscle. Muscle tissue gives skeletal muscles the ability to muscle contra ...
of the
soft palate
The soft palate (also known as the velum, palatal velum, or muscular palate) is, in mammals, the soft biological tissue, tissue constituting the back of the roof of the mouth. The soft palate is part of the palate of the mouth; the other part is ...
and
pharynx
The pharynx (: pharynges) is the part of the throat behind the human mouth, mouth and nasal cavity, and above the esophagus and trachea (the tubes going down to the stomach and the lungs respectively). It is found in vertebrates and invertebrates ...
. It is innervated by the
vagus nerve (cranial nerve X) via its
pharyngeal plexus. During swallowing, it contracts, elevating the soft palate to help prevent food from entering the
nasopharynx
The pharynx (: pharynges) is the part of the throat behind the mouth and nasal cavity, and above the esophagus and trachea (the tubes going down to the stomach and the lungs respectively). It is found in vertebrates and invertebrates, though its ...
.
Structure
The levator veli palatini muscle occurs in the
soft palate
The soft palate (also known as the velum, palatal velum, or muscular palate) is, in mammals, the soft biological tissue, tissue constituting the back of the roof of the mouth. The soft palate is part of the palate of the mouth; the other part is ...
of the
mouth
A mouth also referred to as the oral is the body orifice through which many animals ingest food and animal communication#Auditory, vocalize. The body cavity immediately behind the mouth opening, known as the oral cavity (or in Latin), is also t ...
.
It forms a sling superior and immediately posterior to the
palatine aponeurosis
The palatine aponeurosis a thin, firm, fibrous lamella which gives strength and support to soft palate. It serves as the insertion for the tensor veli palatini and levator veli palatini, and the origin for the musculus uvulae, palatopharyngeus, ...
.
Origin
The primary site of origin of the muscle is a quadrangular roughened area upon the medial extremity of the inferior aspect of the
petrous part of the temporal bone
The petrous part of the temporal bone is pyramid-shaped and is wedged in at the base of the skull between the sphenoid and occipital bones. Directed medially, forward, and a little upward, it presents a base, an apex, three surfaces, and three ...
; here, the muscle arises by a small tendon.
Additional fibres of the muscle arise from the inferior aspect of the
cartilaginous part of pharyngotympanic tube, and the vaginal process of sphenoid bone.
Insertion
In the medial third of the soft palate, its fibers spread out between the two strands of the
palatoglossus muscle
The palatoglossal muscle is a muscle of the soft palate and an extrinsic muscle of the tongue. Its surface is covered by oral mucosa and forms the visible palatoglossal arch.
Structure
From its origin, it passes anteroinferiorly and laterally. I ...
to attach to the superior surface of the
palatine aponeurosis
The palatine aponeurosis a thin, firm, fibrous lamella which gives strength and support to soft palate. It serves as the insertion for the tensor veli palatini and levator veli palatini, and the origin for the musculus uvulae, palatopharyngeus, ...
and intermingle with fibres of its contralateral partner.
Nerve supply
The levator veli palatini muscle receives motor innervation from the
vagus nerve (CN X) via the
pharyngeal plexus.
Relations
During its course from its origin to its insertion, the muscle passes medial to the superior margin of the
superior pharyngeal constrictor muscle
The superior pharyngeal constrictor muscle is a quadrilateral muscle of the pharynx. It is the uppermost and thinnest of the three pharyngeal constrictors.
The muscle is divided into four parts according to its four distincts origins: a pterygop ...
.
It lies lateral to the
choana
The choanae (: choana), posterior nasal apertures or internal nostrils are two openings found at the back of the nasal passage between the nasal cavity and the pharynx, in humans and other mammals (as well as crocodilians and most skinks). They ...
.
Actions/movements
The primary action of the muscle is to elevate and draw posterior-ward the nearly vertical posterior portion of the soft palate; thereby, the soft palate is brought into contact with the posterior wall of the pharynx, thus creating a barrier between the nasopharynx and oropharynx.
Additionally, the muscle draws the lateral walls of the nasopharynx posteromedially, thus narrowing the nasopharynx.
Function
The levator veli palatini muscle elevates the soft palate during
swallowing
Swallowing, also called deglutition or inglutition in scientific and medical contexts, is a physical process of an animal's digestive tract (e.g. that of a human body) that allows for an ingested substance (typically food) to pass from the mou ...
. This helps to prevent food from entering the
nasopharynx
The pharynx (: pharynges) is the part of the throat behind the mouth and nasal cavity, and above the esophagus and trachea (the tubes going down to the stomach and the lungs respectively). It is found in vertebrates and invertebrates, though its ...
. Its action may be slightly slower than its partner, the
tensor veli palatini muscle
The tensor veli palatini muscle (tensor palati or tensor muscle of the velum palatinum) is a thin, triangular muscle of the head that tenses the soft palate and opens the Eustachian tube to equalise pressure in the middle ear.
Structure
The ten ...
.
It has little to no effect on the pharyngotympanic tube.
Additional images
Image:Gray141.png, Left temporal bone. Inferior surface.
References
External links
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{{Authority control
Muscles of the head and neck
Pharynx