PALATAL REGION. 265 



The Levator Palati is a long, thick, rounded muscle, placed on the outer side 

 of the posterior aperture of the nares. It arises from the under surface of the 

 apex of the petrous portion of the temporal bone, and from the adjoining carti- 

 laginous portion of the Eustachian tube, and after passing into the pharynx, above 

 the upper concave margin of the Superior constrictor, it descends obliquely 

 downwards and inwards, its fibres spreading out in the posterior surface of the 

 soft palate as far as the middle line, where they blend with those of the opposite 

 side. 



Relations. Externally, with the Tensor palati and Superior constrictor. Inter- 

 nally, it is lined by the mucous membrane of the pharynx. Posteriorly, with the 

 mucous lining of the soft palate. This muscle must be removed and the pterygoid 

 attachment of the Superior constrictor dissected away, in order to expose the next 

 muscle. 



The Circumflexus or Tensor Palati is a broad, thin, riband-like muscle, placed 

 on the outer side of the preceding, and consisting of a vertical and a horizontal 

 portion. The vertical portion arises by a broad, thin, and flat lamella from the 

 scaphoid fossa at the base of the internal pterygoid plate, its origin extending as 

 far back as the spine of the sphenoid ; it also arises from the anterior aspect of 

 the cartilaginous portion of the Eustachian tube ; descending vertically between 

 the internal pterygoid plate and the inner surface of the Internal pterygoid muscle, 

 it terminates in a tendon which winds round the hamular process, being retained 

 in this situation by a tendon of origin of the Internal pterygoid muscle, and 

 lubricated by a bursa. The tendon or horizontal portion then passes horizontally 

 inwards, and expands into a broad aponeurosis on the anterior surface of the soft 

 palate, which unites in the median line with the aponeurosis of the opposite 

 muscle, the fibres being attached in front to the transverse ridge on the posterior 

 border of the horizontal portion of the palate bone. 



Relations. Externally, with the Internal pterygoid. Internally, with the Levator 

 palati, from which it is separated by the Superior constrictor, and the internal 

 pterygoid plate. In the soft palate its aponeurotic expansion is anterior to that 

 of the Levator palati, being covered by mucous membrane. 



The Azygos Uvulse is not a single muscle as implied by its name, but a pair of 

 narrow cylindrical fleshy fasciculi, placed side by side in the median line of the 

 soft palate. Each muscle arises from the posterior nasal spine of the palate bone, 

 and from the contiguous tendinous aponeurosis of the soft palate, and descends to 

 be inserted into the uvula. 



Relations. Anteriorly, with the tendinous expansion of the Levatores palati ; 

 behind, with the mucous membrane. 



The two next muscles are exposed by removing the mucous membrane which covers the pillars 

 of the soft palate throughout nearly their whole extent. 



The Palato-glossus or Constrictor Isthmi Faucium is a small fleshy fasciculus, 

 narrower in the middle than at either extremity, forming, with the mucous mem- 

 brane covering its surface, the anterior pillar of the soft palate. It arises from 

 the anterior surface of the soft palate on each side of the uvula, and, passing 

 forwards and outwards in front of the tonsil, is inserted into the side and dorsum 

 of the tongue, where it blends with the fibres of the Stylo-glossus muscle. In the 

 soft palate, the fibres of this muscle are continuous with those of the opposite side t 



The Palato-pharyngeus is a long fleshy fasciculus, narrower in the middle 

 than at either extremity, forming, with the mucous membrane covering its surface, 

 the posterior pillar of the soft palate. It is separated from the preceding by an 

 angular interval, in which the tonsil is lodged. It arises from the soft palate by 

 an expanded fasciculus, which is divided into two parts by the Levator palati. 

 The anterior fasciculus, the thickest, enters the soft palate between the Levator 

 palati and Tensor palati, and joins in the middle line the corresponding part of 

 the opposite muscle; the posterior fasciculus lies in contact with the mucous mem- 

 brane, and also joins with the corresponding muscle in the middle line. Passing 



