PHARYNX 297 



operates upon the anterior aponeurotic portion of the soft 

 palate. 



Vessels and Nerves of the Soft Palate. The ascending 

 palatine branch of the external maxillary artery is, as a rule, 

 the principal artery of supply to the soft palate. It has 

 already been traced on the wall of the pharynx (pp. 205 and 

 210), where it lies in the sinus of Morgagni, in relation to the 

 levator veli patatini muscle, which it accompanies into the soft 

 palate. The palatine branch of the ascending pharyngeal 

 artery may also be traced into the soft palate ; in cases 

 where the ascending palatine artery is small, this twig becomes 

 enlarged and takes its place (p. 210). The descending palatine 

 branch of the internal maxillary artery also sends small twigs 

 to the soft palate and palatine tonsil. 



Two nerves enter the soft palate from the spheno-palatine 

 ganglion viz., the posterior palatine and the middle palatine 

 nerve. It would appear, however, that they do not supply 

 the muscles, but are distributed to the mucous membrane. 

 The levator veli palatini, the musculus uvulae, the glosso- 

 palatinus, and the pharyngo-palatinus are supplied by twigs 

 from the pharyngeal branches of the vagus, which convey to 

 the muscles fibres which are originally derived from the cerebral 

 part of the accessory nerve (v. p. 223) (W. Aldren Turner). 

 The tensor veli palatini is probably supplied by the branch 

 which it receives from the otic ganglion, which conveys to 

 it. fibres originally derived from the motor part of the mandi- 

 bular division of the trigeminal nerve. 



Tonsillse Palatinse. The palatine tonsils are two prominent 

 masses of lymphoid tissue, placed one in each side wall 

 of the pharynx, in the .triangular interval between the two 

 palatine arches and immediately above the pharyngeal part 

 of the tongue. The pharyngeal or medial surface of the 

 tonsil is covered with mucous membrane and presents a 

 number of orifices which lead into crypts or recesses in its 

 substance. The deep or lateral surface is embedded in the 

 pharyngeal wall and is supported by the superior constrictor 

 muscle of the pharynx (see p. 205). It is covered by a layer 

 of fibrous tissue which forms an incomplete capsule for the 

 organ. It is important to note that between the palatine 

 tonsil and the superior constrictor there is some lax connective 

 tissue, so that the tonsil can be pulled forwards by the vol- 

 sellum without dragging the wall of the pharynx with it. 



