SOFT PALATE. 309 



the outside of the levator, and arises fleshy from a fossa at 

 the root of the internal pterygoid plate, from the spinous 

 process of the sphenoid bone, and front part of the Eustachian 

 tube, and descends along the pterygoid plate, becoming a 

 flat tendon as it reaches the hamulus, round which it turns. 

 It finally expands by inserting itself into the aponeurosis 

 of the palate, and according to some, into the hard ^palate 

 also. Function, to spread the palate. 



3. Constrictor-isthmi-faucium or palato-glossus, so called 

 from its constricting or closing the opening to the fauces, 

 occupies the anterior half arch of the palate and is in front 

 of the tonsil. It consists of a small bundle of fibres, broader 

 at the extremities than in the centre, arises from the 

 lower surface of the velum, and descends to be inserted 

 into the side of the tongue. Function, to raise the tongue, 

 or depress the palate, and close the fauces. 



4. Palato-pharyngeus occupies the posterior half arch of 

 the palate, and arises, in common with its fellow, broad, 

 from the lower surface of the velum, and passing down- 

 ward and backward, behind the tonsil, is inserted into the 

 pharynx at its side and back, between the middle and lower 

 constrictors, and into the border of the thyroid cartilage. 

 Function, to raise the pharynx as deglutition begins, and 

 to depress the palate. 



5. Azygos-uvulce is not, as its name implies, a single 

 muscle, but a pair of small symmetrical muscles, placed 

 side by side on the median line, and arising from the poste- 

 rior spine of the palate bone, or more correctly from the 

 aponeurosis, continuous with the spine. It descends ver- 

 tically to constitute the greater portion of the uvulae. 

 Function, to elevate and shorten the uvula. 



Blood-vessels. The arteries of the soft palate are the 

 superior and inferior palatine branches of the internal 

 maxillary and facial. The veins correspond with the 

 arteries. 



The nerves are the palatine branches of the superior max- 

 illary of the fifth pair, coming from Meckel's ganglion, 

 also branches from the glosso-pharyngeal. 



