LEVATOR PALATI. 



191 



Fig. 88.* 



late. It arises from the soft palate, and is inserted into the inner sur- 

 face of the pharynx, and posterior border of the thyroid cartilage. 



Actions. The three constrictor muscles are important agents in 

 deglutition ; they contract upon the morsel of food as soon as it is 

 received by the pharynx, and convey it downwards into the oeso- 

 phagus. The stylo-pharyngei draw the pharynx upwards and widen 

 it laterally. The palato-pharyngei also draw it upwards, and with 

 the aid of the uvula close the opening of the fauces. 



Sixth Group. Musdes of the soft Palate. 



Levator palati, 

 Tensor palati, 

 Azygos uvulae, 

 Palato-glossus, 

 Palato-pharyngeus. 



Dissection. To examine these muscles, the pharynx must be opened 

 from behind, and the mucous membrane carefully removed from off the 

 posterior surface of the soft palate. 



The LEVATOR PALATI, a 

 moderately thick muscle, arises 

 from the extremity of the pe- 

 trous bone and from the poste- 

 rior and inferior aspect of the 

 Eustachian tube, and passing 

 down by the side of the poste- 

 rior nares spreads out in the 

 structure of the soft palate as 

 far as the middle line. 



Relations. Ex ternally with 

 the tensor palati and superior 

 constrictor muscle ; internally 

 and posteriorly with the mucous 

 membrane of the pharynx and 

 soft palate ; and by its lower 

 border with the palatopharyn- 

 geus. 



* The muscles of the soft palate. 1. A transverse section through the mid- 

 dle of the base of the skull, dividing the basilar process of the occipital bone in 

 the middle line, and the petrous portion of the temporal bone at each side. 2. 

 The vomer covered by mucous membrane and separating the two posterior 

 nares. 3, 3. The Eustachian tubes. 4. The levator palati muscle of the left 

 side ; the right has been removed. 5 . The hamular process of the internal 

 pterygoid plate of the left side, around which the aponeurosis of the tensor 

 palati is seen turning. 6. The pterygo-maxillary ligament. 7. The superior 

 constrictor muscle of the left side, turned aside. 8. The azygos uvulae muscle. 

 Q. The internal pterygoid plate. 10. The external pterygoid plate. 11. The 

 tensor palati muscle. 12. Its aponeurosis expanding in the structure of the 

 soft palate. 13. The external pterygoid muscle. 14. The attachments of two 

 pairs of muscles cut short ; the superior pair belong to the genio-hyo-glossi 



