Muscles of the Soft Palate

Question 1

Tensor veli palatini

Answer 1

origin: scaphoid fossa, fibrous part of the auditory tube, spine of spenoid.
insertion: palatine aponeurosis.
innervation: V3 branch to medial pterygoid
action: tenses soft palate, opens auditory tube

Question 2

Levator veli palatini

Answer 2

origin: petrous part of temporal bone anterior to carotid canal
insertion: palatine aponeurosis
innervation: X via pharyngeal plexus
action: elevates soft palate

Question 3

Palatoglossus

Answer 3

origin: palatine aponeurosis
insertion: lateral tongue
innervation: X via pharyngeal plexus
action: depresses soft palate or elevates rear of tongue, narrow fauces

Question 4

Palatopharyngeus

Answer 4

origin: palatine aponeurosis
insertion: pharyngeal wall
innervation: X via pharyngeal wall
action: depresses soft palate or elevates pharynx, narrow fauces