Levator veli palatini 3101292 197811193 2008-03-12T21:09:45Z Value City 6644637 {{Muscle infobox | Name = Levator veli palatini | Latin = musculus levator veli palatini | GraySubject = 243 | GrayPage = 1139 | Image = Musculuslevatorvelipalatini.png | Caption = Dissection of the muscles of the palate from behind. (Caption for Levator veli palatini visible at right, second from the top.) | Image2 = Gray907.png | Caption2 = External and middle ear, opened from the front. Right side. (Levator veli palatini visible at bottom right.) | Origin = [[temporal bone]], [[Eustachian tube]] | Insertion = [[palatine aponeurosis]] | Action = elevates [[soft palate]] | Blood = [[facial artery]] | Nerve = [[Vagus]] (CN X) | DorlandsPre = m_22 | DorlandsSuf = 12549638 | }} The '''levator veli palatini''' is the elevator [[muscle]] of the velum palatinum in the [[human body]]. During swallowing, it contracts, elevating the [[soft palate]] to help prevent food from entering the [[nasopharynx]]. It is innervated via the [[pharyngeal plexus]], primarily by the [[vagus nerve]] (CN X). The Levator veli palatini (Levator palati) is a thick, rounded muscle situated lateral to the [[choana|choanæ]]. It arises from the under surface of the apex of the petrous part of the [[temporal bone]] and from the medial lamina of the cartilage of the [[auditory tube]]. After passing above the upper concave margin of the [[Constrictor pharyngis superior]] it spreads out in the [[palatine velum]], its fibers extending obliquely downward and medialward to the middle line, where they blend with those of the opposite side. ==Additional images== <gallery> Image:Gray141.png|Left temporal bone. Inferior surface. </gallery> ==External links== * {{MuscleLoyola|lvp}} * {{GPnotebook|-147521459}} * {{eMedicineDictionary|levator+veli+palatini+muscle}} * {{RocheLexicon|25420.000-1}} {{Gray's}} {{muscle-stub}} {{Muscles of head}} [[Category:Muscles of the head and neck]] [[de:Musculus levator veli palatini]] [[fr:Muscle élévateur du voile du palais]] [[hu:Szájpademelőizom]] [[nl:Musculus levator veli palatini]] [[sr:Мишић подизач меког непца]] [[sh:Mišić podizač mekog nepca]]