THE MUSCLES OF THE HEAD AND NECK 133 



transverse, and vertical fibers, with a medium fibrous 

 septum. They all receive fibers from the extrinsic 

 muscles at their points of insertion into the tongue. 



The Muscles of the Soft Palate (Palatal Region) 



The soft palate is continued back from the hard 

 palate, and is seen on opening the mouth as an arch 

 with a central projection called the uvula, directly 

 over the back of the tongue. Beneath the mucous 

 membrane covering these parts are the muscles of the 

 soft palate, as follows: 



Levator palati. Palatoglossus. 



Tensor palati. Palatopharyngeus. 



Azygos uvulae. Salpingopharyngeus. 



The Muscles of the Pharynx (Pharyngeal Region) 



Superior constrictor. Inferior constrictor. 

 Middle constrictor. Stylopharyngeus. 



}See muscles of soft pa.ate. 



These muscles are divided into two layers an 

 outer flat and thin one called the constrictors, with a 

 transverse set of fibers; an inner called the elevators, 

 two in number, with a longitudinal arrangement of 

 the fibers. 



Actions of pharyngeal muscles. Their chief function 

 is to assist in swallowing the food after it has been 

 masticated and forced into the pharynx by the tongue 

 and muscles of the soft palate. At the beginning of 

 deglutition the sides of the pharynx are raised upward 

 and outward by the two stylopharyngei muscles, 

 at the same time the larynx and tongue are carried 

 forward. When the bolus of food is being received 

 into the pharynx, the elevator muscles relax and the 



