Palatopharyngeus muscle
3101544
198974541
2008-03-17T23:12:04Z
Value City
6644637
{{Muscle infobox |
Name = Palatopharyngeus muscle |
Latin = musculus palatopharyngeus |
GraySubject = 243 |
GrayPage = 1139 |
Image = Musculuspalatopharyngeus.png |
Caption = Dissection of the muscles of the [[palate]] from behind. (Pharyngopalatinus labeled at top center, below [[choanae]].) |
Origin = [[palatine aponeurosis]] and [[hard palate]] |
Insertion = Upper border of [[thyroid cartilage]] (blends with constrictor fibers)|
Blood = [[Facial artery]]|
Nerve = [[vagus nerve]] and [[cranial accessory nerve]] |
Action = pulls [[pharynx]] and [[larynx]] |
MeshName = |
MeshNumber = |
DorlandsPre = m_22 |
DorlandsSuf = 12550054 |
}}
The '''palatopharyngeus''' or '''palatopharyngeal''' or '''pharyngopalatinus''' muscle is a long, fleshy fasciculus, narrower in the middle than at either end, forming, with the mucous membrane covering its surface, the [[palatopharyngeal arch]].
==Origin and insertion==
It is separated from the [[palatoglossus muscle]] by an angular interval, in which the [[palatine tonsil]] is lodged. It arises from the soft palate, where it is divided into two fasciculi by the [[levator veli palatini]] and [[musculus uvulae]].
* The ''posterior fasciculus'' lies in contact with the [[mucous membrane]], and joins with that of the opposite muscle in the middle line.
* The ''anterior fasciculus'', the thicker, lies in the [[soft palate]] between the [[levator veli palatini|levator]] and [[tensor veli palatini muscle|tensor]] veli palatini muscles, and joins in the middle line the corresponding part of the opposite muscle.
Passing lateralward and downward behind the palatine tonsil, the palatopharyngeus joins the [[stylopharyngeus]] and is inserted with that muscle into the posterior border of the thyroid cartilage, some of its fibers being lost on the side of the [[pharynx]] and others passing across the middle line posteriorly to decussate with the muscle of the opposite side.
==Action==
The [[palatine velum]] is slightly raised by the [[levator veli palatini]] and made tense by the [[tensor veli palatini]]; the palatopharyngeus muscles, by their contraction, pull the [[pharynx]] upward over the [[Bolus (digestion)|bolus]] of food and nearly come together, the [[palatine uvula | uvula]] filling up the slight interval between them.
By these means the bolus is prevented from passing into the [[nasal part of the pharynx]]; at the same time, the palatopharyngeus muscles form an inclined plane, directed obliquely downward and backward, along the under surface of which the bolus descends into the lower part of the pharynx.
==External links==
* {{MuscleLoyola|palp}}
* {{GPnotebook|-1308229552}}
* {{SUNYAnatomyFigs|31|04|05}}
* {{SUNYAnatomyLabs|34|04|01|04}}
* {{RocheLexicon|05287.011-1}}
{{Gray's}}
{{muscle-stub}}
{{Muscles_of_head}}
[[Category:Muscles of the head and neck]]
[[de:Musculus palatopharyngeus]]
[[hu:Garatszájpadizom]]
[[sr:Непчано-ждрелни мишић]]
[[sh:Nepčano-ždrelni mišić]]