382 HEAD AND NECK 



median plane. As they pass posteriorly into the uvula they 

 unite into a single rounded muscular bundle. 



Dissection. The levator palati muscle has been seen already on the 

 outer aspect of the pharynx in the sinus of Morgagni. To display it from 

 the inside it is necessary to remove the wall of the pharynx between the 

 auditory tube above and the upper border of the superior constrictor 

 below, and then follow its fibres into the soft palate. In a well-injected 

 subject the dissector will observe the ascending palatine artery in rela- 

 tion to this muscle. 



Musculus Levator Veil Palatini. The levator palati is a 

 rounded fleshy muscle which arises from the lower and medial 

 border of the cartilage of the auditory tube, and from the 

 rough surface on the under aspect of the apex of the petrous 

 part of the temporal bone. It passes downwards and an- 

 teriorly, crosses the upper border of the superior constrictor, 

 pierces the pharyngeal aponeurosis, passes below the orifice of 

 the auditory tube and enters the soft palate. There its fibres 

 spread out below the uvular muscle and above the anterior 

 or deep portion of the pharyngo-palatinus. Anteriorly, some 

 of the fibres are inserted into the palatal aponeurosis; but 

 more posteriorly, the majority of the fibres become continu- 

 ous with the corresponding fasciculi of the opposite side. 



Musculus Tensor Veil Palatini. The origin of the tensor 

 veli palatini and the relations of its muscular belly were noted on 

 p. 293. The muscle descends from the base of the skull along 

 the lateral surface of the medial pterygoid lamina, and ends 

 in a tendon which turns horizontally towards the median plane, 

 below the hamulus, where a bursa mucosa facilitates the play 

 of the tendon on the bone. In the soft palate the tendon ex- 

 pands below the lower layer of the pharyngo-palatinus, and some 

 of its fibres blend with the palatal aponeurosis whilst others 

 gain attachment to the horizontal part of the palate bone. 



Palatal Aponeurosis. The palatal aponeurosis extends 

 posteriorly from the posterior margin of the hard palate to 

 give strength and support to the soft palate. At first it 

 is strongly marked, but it weakens rapidly as it passes 

 posteriorly. The small portion of the soft palate which it 

 supports contains few muscular fibres, and remains always 

 more or less horizontal in position. The much more extensive 

 posterior muscular part of the soft palate constitutes the 

 movable sloping portion. The tensor palati operates upon 

 the anterior aponeurotic portion of the soft palate. 



