318 MUSCLES OF THE PALATE. 



N. B. Its fleshy belly is generally perforated by the tendon 

 of the digastric muscle, on one or both sides. There is often 

 another accompanying it, called stylo-hi/oideus alter ; and has 

 the same origin, insertion, and use. 



3. Stylo-PharyngeuS; 



Arises, fleshy, from the root of the styloid process. 



Inserted into the side of the pharynx and back part of the 

 thyroid cartilage. 



Use. To dilate the pharynx and raise it and the thyroid 

 cartilage upwards. 



The two from the pterygoid process are, 



1. Circumjiexus, or Tensor Palatl, 



Arises from the spinous process of the sphenoid bone, behind 

 the foramen ovale, which transmits the third branch of the fifth 

 pair of nerves, from the Eustachian tube, not far from its osse- 

 ous part ; it then runs down along the pterygoideus internus, 

 passes over the hook of the internal plate of the pterygoid 

 process by a round tendon, which soon spreads into a broad 

 membrane. 



Inserted into the velum pendulum palati. and the semilunar 

 edge of the os palati, and extends as far as the suture whicli 

 joins the two bones. Generally some of its posterior fibres join 

 with the constrictor pharyngis superior, and palato-pharyngeus. 



Use. To stretch the velum, to draw it downwards, and to one 

 side towards the hook. It has little efi'ect upon the tube, being 

 chiefly connected to its osseous part. 



2. Levator Palati, 



Arises, tendinous and fleshy, from the extremity of the pars 

 petrosa of the temporal bone, where it is perforated by the 

 Eustachian tube, and also from the membranous part of the 

 same tube. 



Inserted, into the whole length of the velum pendulum 

 palati, as far as the root of the uvula, and unites with it? 

 fellow. 



