Muscles of the velum

Question 1

What is the mid-anterior portion of the velum made up of?

Answer 1

palatal aponeurosis

Question 2

What are the muscles of the velum?

Answer 2

tensor veli palatini, palatoglossus, palatopharyngeus, levator veli palatini (or levator palati), musculus uvulae

Question 3

What muscle makes up most of the velum?

Answer 3

levator veli palatini or levator palati

Question 4

What muscles are innervated by pharyngeal plexus coming from the accessory nerve (CN XI) and vagus nerve (X)?

Answer 4

palatopharyngeus, musculus uvulue, and levator veli palatini (levator palati)

Question 5

What muscles of the velum are considered elevators?

Answer 5

musculus uvulae and levator veli palatini (levator palati)

Question 6

What muscles of the velum are considered depressors?

Answer 6

palatoglossus (anterior faucial pillar) and palatopharyngeus (posterior faucial pillar)

Question 7

What muscle of the velum dilates the eustachian tube?

Answer 7

tensor veli palatini

Question 8

Which muscle of the velum is considered its “primary elevator”?

Answer 8

levator veli palatini (levator palati)

Question 9

What does the levator veli palatini do?

Answer 9

brings and pulls back the posterior velum

Question 10

What innervates the levator veli palatini and palatopharyngeus muscle?

Answer 10

pharyngeal plexus coming from the vagus nerve and spinal accessory nerve

Question 11

What does the musculus uvulae do?

Answer 11

it shortens and broadens the uvula, which changes the contour or outline of the posterior velum

Question 12

What does the tensor veli palatini do?

Answer 12

dilates the eustachian tube

Question 13

What innervates the tensor veli palatini?

Answer 13

mandibular branch of the trigeminal nerve

Question 14

What does the palatoglossus muscle do?

Answer 14

brings the tongue up or brings the velum down

Question 15

What does the palatopharyngeus muscle do?

Answer 15

dilates the pharynx, lowers the velum, and may help in lifting the larynx