Muscles of the Velopharyngeal Mechanism

Question 1

Muscles of the velopharyngeal mechanism

Answer 1

Muscles of the velopharyngeal mechanism include those muscles that make up the velum or soft palate (velo-) or the pharynx (pharyngeal)

Question 1

2 groups for muscles of the velopharyngeal mechanism

Answer 1

1. Palatal muscles (5)
2. Pharyngeal muscles (50

Question 2

Palatal muscles

Answer 2

1. tensor veli palatini
2. Levator veli palatini
3. musculus uvula
4. palatoglossus
5. palatopharyngeus

Question 3

palatal muscles function

Answer 3

1. Act in some way upon the velum [soft palate]
2. Will elevate or raise the velum during swallowing + during the production of some speech sounds (all sounds except nasals) - CLOSES SOFT PALATE
3. will depress orlower the velum during breathing + during the production of some speech sounds (nasal sounds only) - OPENS SOFT PALATE

Question 4

Palatoglossus

Answer 4

Extrinsic muscle of the tongue

2 functions

1. pull the palate downward
2. pull the sides of the tongue upward

Its functions depends on what other muscles are active at the time

Question 5

Tensor veli palatini

Answer 5

Origin: medial pterygoid plate of sphenoid bone + anterolateral wall of the eustachian tube

Course: inferiorly, winds around the hamulus. Becomes teninous + then courses medially towards the center of the velum

Insert: on the palatal aponeurosis and blends with fibers from other muscles

Function: Tenses the soft palate

By doing so, it assists levator veli palatini in elevating the palate to occlude and prevent entry of food into the nasopharynx. it also closes for production of some speech sounds

**2 function: pull the anterolateral wall of the eustachian tube away from the medial wall **

Question 6

2nd function of the tensor veli palatini

Answer 6

Action of pulling the anterolateral wall of the eustachian tube away from the medial wall ASSISTS in OPENING the eustachian tube during SWALLOWING/YAWNING in order to allow air pressure to equalize between the middle ear and outside air

Question 7

Levator veli palatini

Answer 7

This muscle forms the BULK of the VELUM

ORIGIN: petrous portion of the temporal bone + the medial aspect of the eustachian tube

COURSE: inferiorly, medially, anteriorly

INSERTION: velum; blends with fibers from other side to form a sling

FUNCTION: pulls soft palate posteriorly + superiorly towards the pharyngeal wall [to close the soft palate]

Question 8

Musculus Uvula

Answer 8

ORIGIN: nasal spine of the palatine bone

COURSE: posteriorly along the surface of the soft palate toward the uvula

INSERTION: the fibers terminate near the uvula

FUNCTION: bulks + siffens the soft palate; it aids in closure of the soft palate

Question 9

Palatoglossus origin, course, etc.

Answer 9

forms the ANTERIOR FAUCIAL PILLARS (tonsils)

ORIGIN: lower surface of the palatal aponeurosis

COURSE: inferiorly

INSERT: lateral aspects of the tongue

FUNCTION: pulls the palate downward [opens the velopharyngeal port] or the sides of the tongue up (to form a trough)

Question 10

Palatopharyngeus

Answer 10

forms the POSTERIOR FAUCIAL PILLARS

ORIGIN: lower surface of the palatal aponeurosis, interwoven with other fibers

COURSE: inferiorly

INSERT: lateral walls of the pharynx + thyroid

FUNCTION: draws the soft palate posteriorly, for closure

Question 11

Pharyngeal Muscles (5)

Answer 11

5 pharyngeal muscles that also contribute to the formation of the velopharyngeal mechanism

These muscles are superficial to the palatal musculature

1. superior constrictor
2. middle constrictor
3. inferior constrictor
4. stylopharyngeus
5. salpingopharyngeus

Question 12

How to think about pharyngeal muscles

Answer 12

Remember that they are all THROAT muscles

In terms of FUNCTION, think about what word “CONSTRICT” means “to make narrow”

they CONSTRICT like a boa constrictor

Question 13

Superior Constrictor

Answer 13

forms the nasopharyngeal + upper oropharyngeal walls

ORIGIN: sides of the soft palate + tongue, and also in the lateral pharyngeal wall

COURSE: posteriorly + medially

INSERT: midline of the pharyngeal raphe (groove, ridge, or seam, often where halves are fused)

FUNCTION: narrows the nasopharyngeal + upper oropharyngeal space

Question 14

Middle Constrictor

Answer 14

Immediately inferior to the superior constrictor muscle

ORIGIN: hyoid bone

COURSE: radiates as fibers course posteriorly

INSERT: midline of the pharyngeal raphe

FUNCTION: narrows the oropharyngeal space

Question 15

Inferior constrictor

Answer 15

the THICKEST + STRONGEST of the pharyngeal constrictor muscles

ORIGIN: thyroid cartilage

COURSE: diverse as fibers course both posteriorly + medially

INSERT: midline of the pharyngeal raphe

FUNCTION: narrows the laryngopharyngeal space + upper esophageal sphincter

Question 16

Stylopharyngeus

Answer 16

ORIGIN: styloid process of the temporal bone

COURSE: down the lateral aspect of the pharynx

INSERT: fibers blend with the constrictor muscles

FUNCTION: elevates and dilates the pharynx