164 MYOLOGY, OR ANATOMY OF MUSCULAR SYSTEM 



Nerves. Pharyngeal plexus and motor fibers from the 

 bulbar part of the spinal accessory nerve, glossopharyngeal 

 also for middle constrictor; inferior constrictor has in addition 

 fibers from the external and inferior laryngeal nerves. Stylo- 

 pharyngeus is supplied by the glossopharyngeus. 



The Muscles of the Soft Palate 



The soft palate (velum pendulum palati) is continued back 

 from the hard palate, pendulous posteriorly, prolonged in the 

 middle into the uvula, and laterally into the posterior pillar H 

 of the fauces, which run to the side of the pharynx; another 

 fold in front is the anterior pillar of the fauces, descending 

 to the tongue; between them is the tonsil, and the constricted 

 part between the anterior pillars is the isthmus of the fauces. 

 There are five pairs of muscles two superior, one intermediate, 

 and two inferior. 



The palatoglossus (constrictor isthmi faucium) occupies the 

 anterior pillar of the fauces; at its origin in the anterior surface 

 of the soft palate it is below all the other palatal muscles, 

 and continuous with its fellow; inferiorly it enters the side of 

 the tongue and joins the transverse fibers. 



The palatopharyngeus (pharyngostaphylinus) rises by two 

 layers which embrace the levator palati and azygos uvulae; 

 the superficial (posterior) layer is thin, the deep (anterior) 

 layer is stronger, meets its fellow, and rises in part from the 

 hard palate and aponeurosis of the velum; it receives one or 

 two fibers from the cartilage of the Eustachian tube (salpingo- 

 pharyngeus). It passes down in the posterior pillar, mingling 

 with the stylopharyngeus, is inserted into the upper and hinder 

 borders of the thyroid cartilage and fibrous layer of the pharynx, 

 passing to or crossing the median line. 



The azygos uvula? (palatostaphylinus), supposed to be single, 

 consists of two slips which rise from the soft palate and pos- 

 terior nasal spine and descend into the uvula, separated above, 

 united below. 



Levator Palati. Origin, petrous portion .of the temporal 

 bone in front of the carotid canal, from the lower margin of 

 the cartilage of the Eustachian tube, passes forward over the 

 superior constrictor, and is inserted by its forepart into the 



