Levator veli palatini
Encyclopedia
The levator veli palatini is the elevator muscle
of the soft palate
in the human body
. During swallowing, it contracts, elevating the soft palate to help prevent food from entering the nasopharynx
. It is innervated via the pharyngeal plexus
, primarily by the pharyngeal branch of the vagus nerve
(CN X).
The levator veli palatini (Levator palati) is a thick, rounded muscle situated lateral to the choanæ
.
It arises from the under surface of the apex of the petrous part of the temporal bone
and from the medial lamina of the cartilage of the auditory tube.
After passing above the upper concave margin of the Constrictor pharyngis superior 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.
Muscle
Muscle is a contractile tissue of animals and is derived from the mesodermal layer of embryonic germ cells. Muscle cells contain contractile filaments that move past each other and change the size of the cell. They are classified as skeletal, cardiac, or smooth muscles. Their function is to...
of the soft palate
Soft palate
The soft palate is the soft tissue constituting the back of the roof of the mouth. The soft palate is distinguished from the hard palate at the front of the mouth in that it does not contain bone....
in the human body
Human body
The human body is the entire structure of a human organism, and consists of a head, neck, torso, two arms and two legs.By the time the human reaches adulthood, the body consists of close to 100 trillion cells, the basic unit of life...
. During swallowing, it contracts, elevating the soft palate to help prevent food from entering the nasopharynx
Nasopharynx
The nasopharynx is the uppermost part of the pharynx. It extends from the base of the skull to the upper surface of the soft palate; it differs from the oral and laryngeal parts of the pharynx in that its cavity always remains patent .-Lateral:On its lateral wall is the pharyngeal ostium of the...
. It is innervated via the pharyngeal plexus
Pharyngeal plexus
Pharyngeal plexus can refer to:* Pharyngeal plexus of vagus nerve* Pharyngeal plexus...
, primarily by the pharyngeal branch of the vagus nerve
Vagus nerve
The vagus nerve , also called pneumogastric nerve or cranial nerve X, is the tenth of twelve paired cranial nerves...
(CN X).
The levator veli palatini (Levator palati) is a thick, rounded muscle situated lateral to the choanæ
Choana
Choana is the posterior nasal aperture.The choanae are separated by the vomer.- Boundaries :It is the opening between the nasal cavity and the nasopharynx....
.
It arises from the under surface of the apex of the petrous part of the temporal bone
Temporal bone
The temporal bones are situated at the sides and base of the skull, and lateral to the temporal lobes of the cerebrum.The temporal bone supports that part of the face known as the temple.-Parts:The temporal bone consists of four parts:* Squama temporalis...
and from the medial lamina of the cartilage of the auditory tube.
After passing above the upper concave margin of the Constrictor pharyngis superior 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.