Palatopharyngeal muscle
| Palatopharyngeal muscle |
|---|
|
| origin |
| Palate aponeurosis |
| approach |
| Roof of the pharynx , thyroid cartilage |
| function |
| Raising the throat during the act of swallowing |
| Innervation |
| Vagus nerve |
The musculus palatopharyngeus ( Latin for "palate-pharynx-muscle") is a skeletal muscle of the head and forms the muscular basis of the posterior palatial arch ( arcus palatopharyngeus ). It arises from the palatal aponeurosis ( aponeurosis palatina ) and attaches to the roof of the pharynx and thyroid cartilage .
At the origin, the muscle is divided into two strands by the levator veli palatini muscle and the uvulae muscle . The posterior strand is in close contact with the lining of the throat . The thicker anterior strand lies in the soft palate between the levator veli palatini muscle and the tensor veli palatini muscle . Both strands unite in the median plane with the corresponding portion on the opposite side. The palatopharyngeus muscle pulls downwards laterally behind the palatine tonsil and unites with the stylopharyngeus muscle in front of its insertion .
The muscle lifts the base of the tongue, closes the mouth ( isthmus faucium ) during the act of swallowing and lowers the palate. The innervation takes place via the vagus nerve , but the nerve fibers come from the cranial radix of the accessory nerve .
literature
L. Richard Drake et al .: Gray ́s Anatomy for students with student consultancy access . Elsevier, Urban & Fischer Verlag, 2007, ISBN 9783437412318 , p. 1037.