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MUSCLES AND FASCIAE. 



6. PALATAL REGION. 



Levator Palati. Azygos Uvulae. 



Tensor Palati. Palato-glossus. 



Palato-pharyngeus. 



Dissection. (Fig. 224). Lay open the pharynx from behind, by a vertical incision extending 

 from its upper to its lower part, and partially divide the occipital attachment by a transverse 

 incision on each side of the vertical one ; the posterior surface of the soft palate is then exposed. 

 Having fixed the uvula so as to make it tense, the mucous membrane and glands should be care- 

 fully removed from the posterior surface of the soft palate, and the muscles of this part are at 

 once exposed. 



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

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

 petrous portion of the temporal bone, and from the adjoining cartilaginous 

 portion of the Eustachian tube ; after passing into the pharynx, above the upper 



Fig. 224. Muscles of the Soft Palate. The Pharynx being laid open from behind. 



concave margin of the Superior Constrictor, it descends obliquely downwards 

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

 us far as the middle line, where they blend with those of the opposite side. 



Relations. Externally, with the Tensor Palati and Superior Constrictor. 

 Internally, with 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, ribbon-like muscle, placed 



