468 Mr. Morean on the Anatomy 
wards behind the tongue, with the muscular structure of which 
its fibres at the lower part intermix. Each muscle ascending 
from behind the root of the tongue passes on the side of the 
funnel between the two layers of mucous membrane, forming 
the anterior and posterior surfaces of the velum, its fibres be- 
coming more diffused and spreading over the upper part of the 
velum to join above the funnel with those of its fellow on the 
opposite side; the superior termination of the two muscular 
columns thus intermixing appears to be insensibly lost upon the 
palative membrane. | 
The two muscles are torneis with a thin circular band of 
muscular fibre, which forms an anterior sphincter to the circum- 
ference of the funnel. On the posterior part of the velum a 
lateral support is afforded in the same way by a band of muscle 
on each side, which having an attachment above to the palate 
is continued downwards, to terminate by intermixing with the 
muscular structure of the pharynx. These two posterior slips 
of muscle are connected above and below the aperture in the 
velum by transverse fibres. 
To the four supporting muscles which I have now described, 
and which may perhaps be considered as analogous to the pil- 
lars of the fauces in other animals, the circumference of the 
funnel will be found attached by the connection of its muscular. 
fibres with those already described: these are arranged in a 
circular order, and form a complete sphincter over the whole 
cone, by the contraction and dilatation of which the passage of 
any substance through its central aperture must be assisted or 
prevented. ^ 
It will beseen by the drawing in which these parts are re- 
presented (Tan. XXX.), that when any substance is passing 
from the mouth to the pharynx, the conical projection of the 
velum must necessarily pass over the epiglottis, and thus prevent 
the 
