THE MUSCULAR SYSTEM. 139 



PHARYNGEAL AND PALATAL REGION. 



CONSTRICTOR SUPERIOR. Origin, from margin of internal 

 pterygoid plate and its hamular process ; from ptery go-maxillary 

 ligament, part of the alveolar process of the lower jaw and side 

 of the tongue, tendon of the tensor palati, and part of the palate- 

 bone; insi'i-Hnii. into the median raphe and the pharyngeal spine 

 of the basilar process of the occipital bone; action, constricts the 

 pharynx; nerves, pharyngeal plexus and glosso-pharyngeal. 



CONSTRICTOR MEDIUS. Origin, from the stylo-hyoid liga- 

 ment, greater and lesser cornua of the hyoid bone; insertion, 

 into the median fibrous raphe, blending with its fellow of oppo- 

 site side; action, constricts the pharynx; nerves, pharyngeal 

 plexus and glosso-pharyngeal. 



CONSTRICTOR INFERIOR. Origin, from the sides of the thy- 

 roid and cricoid cartilages; insertion, into the fibrous raphe of 

 the pharynx; action, contracts the pharyngeal canal; nerves, 

 external laryngeal, glosso-pharyngeal, pharyngeal plexus. 



STYLO-PHARYNGEUS. Origin, from base of the styloid proc- 

 ess; insertion, into the constrictor muscles, palato-pharyngeus, 

 and posterior border of the thyroid cartilage ; nerves, pharyngeal 

 plexus and glosso-pharyngeal. 



LEVATOR PALATI. Origin, cartilaginous portion of Eusta- 

 chian tube and apex of the petrous portion of the temporal 

 bone; insertion, into the back part of the soft palate, blending 

 with its fellow of the opposite side; action, elevates the soft 

 palate; nerve, descending palatine from MeckeTs ganglion, from 

 the facial. 



TENSOR PALATI, OR CIRCUMFLEXUS. Origin, from spine of 

 the sphenoid, vaginal portion of temporal bone, cartilage of 

 Eustachian tube, and scaphoid fossa at base of internal pterygoid 

 plate ; insertion, into the palate-bone and the soft palate ; auction, 

 renders tense the palate ; nerve, a branch from the otic ganglion. 



AZYGOS UVULJE, OR LEVATOR. Origin, from aponeurosis of 

 soft palate and posterior nasal spine; insertion, into the uvula; 

 action, raises the palate; nerves, descending palatine branches 

 and Meckel's ganglion, from the facial. 



PALATO-GLOSSUS (( -OXSTRICTOR ISTHMI FAUCIUM). Ori- 

 gin, from soft palate on either side of the uvula; insertion, into 

 the dorsuni and side of the tongue, blending \\ith the fibres of the 

 siyloglossus this muscle forms the anterior pillar of the fauces; 

 <icfion. constricts the fauces; nerves, palatine branches of Meek- 

 el's ganglion. 



