330 



THE MUSCLES AND FASCIA. 



portion. The vertical portion arises by a flat lamella from the scaphoid fossa at 

 the base of the internal pterygoid plate ; from the spine of the sphenoid and the 

 outer side of the cartilaginous portion of the Eustachian tube : descending verti- 

 cally between the internal pterygoid plate and the inner surface of the Internal 

 pterygoid muscle, it terminates in a tendon, which winds round the hamular proc- 

 ess, beins retained in this situation by some of the fibres of origin of the Internal 

 pterygoid muscle. Between the hamular process and the tendon is a small bursa. 

 The tendon or horizontal portion then passes horizontally inward, and is inserted 

 into a broad aponeurosis, the palatine aponeurosis, and into the transverse ridge 

 on the horizontal portion of the palate bone. 



FIG. 209. Muscles of the soft palate, the pharynx being laid open from behind. 



Eelations. Externally, with the Internal pterygoid ; internally, with the 

 Levator palati, from which it is separated by the Eustachian tube and Superior 

 constrictor, and with the internal pterygoid plate. In the soft palate its tendon 

 and the palatine aponeurosis are anterior to those of the Levator palati, being cov- 

 ered by the Palato-glossus and the mucous membrane. 



Palatine Aponeurosis. Attached to the posterior border of the hard palate is 

 a thin, firm, fibrous lamella which supports the muscles and gives strength to the 

 soft palate. It is thicker above than below, where it becomes very thin and 

 difficult -to define. Laterally, it is continuous with the pharyngeal aponeurosis. 



The Azygos uvulae is not a single muscle, as would be inferred from its name, 

 but a pair of narrow cylindrical fleshy fasciculi placed on either side of 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. 



