288 MUSCLES OF THE HEAD AND NECK. 



of Doug-las), and <i slip is frequently continued into it from the genio-liyo- 

 glossus muscle. Tlie two middle constrictors have been foitnd connected behind 

 to the base of the skull by muscular fibres or by a fibrous band (Albinus). 



The superior constrictor arises by fibres attached in series from 

 below upwards, to the side of the tongue, to the mucous membrane of 

 the mouth, to the extremity of the mylo-hyoid ridge of the jaw, to the 

 pterygo-raaxillary ligament, and to the lower third of the posterior 

 border of the internal pterygoid plate. The fibres curve backwards, 

 and are mostly blended with those of the corresponding muscle along 

 the middle line, a few ending posteriorly in the aponeurosis which fixes 

 the pharynx to the base of the skull. The upper margin curves round 

 the levator palati and the Eustachian tube ; and the space intervening 

 between this concave margin of the constrictor and the base of the skull 

 is closed by fibrous membrane. 



Belatiom. — In contact with the outer surface of this muscle are the internal 

 carotid artery, the eighth and other large nerves, the middle constrictor, which 

 overlaps a considerable portion, and the stylo-pharyngeus, which descends to 

 the pharjTix between the two constrictors. It conceals the palato-phar;yaigeus 

 and the tonsil, and is lined by mucous membrane. It is tmited to the buccinator 

 muscle anteriorly by the pterygo-maxillary ligament. 



Varictij. — The n://ffos jyhari/ngis (Meckel) is a small mesial slip about half an 

 inch in length, Ij-ing behind the upper and middle constrictors. It arises from 

 the pharyngeal spine on the under surface of the basilar process of the occipital 

 bone, and is inserted into the median raphe of the pharynx. 



The stylo-pharyngens, larger and longer than the other styloid 

 muscles, arises from the inner surface of the styloid process, near the 

 root, and proceeding downwards and inwards to the side of the pharynx, 

 passes under cover of the middle constrictor muscle, where it detaches 

 some fibres to the constrictors, and, gradually expanding, is connected 

 with the palato-pharyngeus muscle, and ends in the superior and post- 

 erior borders of the thyroid cartilage. 



lidations. — The external surface of this muscle is, in the upper part of its 

 extent, in contact with the styloid process, the stylo-hyoideus muscle, and the 

 external carotid arteiy ; m the lower, with the middle constrictor of the pharj-nx. 

 Internally it rests on the internal carotid arteiy and jugular vein ; and lower 

 down on the mucous membrane of the pharynx. The glosso-phaiyngeal nerve 

 is close to the muscle, and crosses over it in turning forwards to the tongue. 



Varieties. — The ccjjMh-phnryngcm (Sandifort) is a small occasional muscle 

 which usually arises from the vaginal process of the temporal bone, but some- 

 times also from the spine of the sphenoid or from the angle of the petrous bone 

 (Macalister) ; in its course it is separated from the stylo-pharyngeus by the 

 glosso-pharyngeal nerve, and it is finally lost below the inferior constrictor of the 

 pharynx. 



The saljnngn-jjhari/ngms (Santorini), arising by a tendon from the Eustachian 

 tube, descends in the interior of the pharj-nx towards its back part, and, after 

 joining with the palato-pharyngeus, is lost in the muscular structure of the 

 cavity. 



The Soft Palate {veJiim pendulum palati) is a movable curtain, 

 continued backwards from the hard palate. It presents posteriorly a 

 free pendulous margin, prolonged in the middle into a conical process, 

 the uvula, and at each side into two prominent curved folds, the _ ante- 

 rior of which, the anterior pillar of the fauces, descends to the side of 

 the tongue, while the posterior fold, the posterior pillar of the fauces, 

 runs downwards and backwards into the pharynx ; between the two is 



