130 



DISSECTION OF THE PHARYNX. 



lateral part of the soft palate; but its movements will be very limited, 

 seeing that the tendon is inserted partly into the palate bone. 



Fig. 30. 



1. Azygos uvulae. 



2. Tensor palati. 



3. Levator palati. 



4. Palato-pharyiigeus upper end. 



5. External pterygoid. 



If the soft pa^te is fixed by the depressor muscles, the levator and 

 tensor, and the salpingo-pharyngeus, taking their fixed points below, open 

 the Eustachian tube in swallowing. 



The PALATO-GLOSSUS MUSCLE (constrictor isthmi faucium) is a small, 

 pale band of fibres, which is contained in the anterior arch, I, of the soft 

 palate. It is connected inferiorly with the lateral surface and the dorsum 

 of the tongue ; from this spot the fibres ascend before the tonsil to the 

 anterior aspect of the soft palate, where they form a thin muscular stratum, 

 and join those of the fellow muscle along the middle line. 



At its origin the muscle is blended with the glossal muscles, and at its 

 insertion it is placed before the tensor palati. 



Action. The palato-glossus narrows the isthmus of the fauces; the mus- 

 cles of opposite sides moving inwards towards each other, and separating 

 from the mouth the morsel to be swallowed. 



When the tongue is fixed the muscle will render tense and draw down 

 the soft palate. 



The PALATO-PHARYNGEUS is much larger in size than the preceding, 

 and gives rise to the eminence of the posterior pillar, L, of the soft palate. 

 The muscle is attached below to the posterior border of the thyroid carti- 

 lage, some fibres blending with the contiguous portion of the pharynx; 

 and it decussates across the middle line with corresponding fibres of the 

 muscle of the opposite side (Merkel). 1 Ascending thence behind the 

 ton.-il, the fibres enter the side of the palate, and separate into two layers 

 (fig. 30, 4 ). The posterior, thin and in contact with the mucous mem- 

 brane, joins at the middle line a like offset of its fellow. The deeper or 

 anterior stratum, much the strongest, enters the substance of the palate 

 between the levator and tensor, and joins at the middle line the corre- 

 sponding part of the opposite muscle, whilst some of the upper fibres end 

 on the aponeurosis of the palate. 



! Dr. Merkel, in the work before referred to. states that this nrnscle has no firm 

 fixed attachment below, and that it ends altogether in the wall of the pharynx, 

 decussating with the muscle of the opposite side. This assertion does not accord 

 with my experience. 



