Muscles of soft palate
Musculi palati mollis
- Latin synonym: Musculi palati mollis et faucium
- Synonym: Muscles of soft palate and fauces
- Related terms: Muscles of soft palate and fauces
Definition
The soft palate is a movable muscular fold that separates the nasopharynx from the oropharynx during swallowing and speech. It contains five paired muscles, all of which coordinate to elevate, tense, or depress the palate and open the pharyngotympanic (auditory) tube.
Muscle | Origin | Insertion | Nerve Supply | Action |
Scaphoid fossa of sphenoid bone, spine of sphenoid, and lateral cartilage of the auditory tube | Palatine aponeurosis (after looping around pterygoid hamulus) | CN V3 (mandibular nerve) | Tenses soft palate, opens pharyngotympanic tube | |
Petrous temporal bone, cartilage of auditory tube | Upper surface of palatine aponeurosis | Pharyngeal plexus (via CN X) | Elevates soft palate | |
Posterior nasal spine | Mucosa of uvula | Pharyngeal plexus (via CN X) | Shortens and elevates the uvula | |
Inferior surface of palatine aponeurosis | Side of tongue | Pharyngeal plexus (via CN X) | Elevates the posterior tongue and narrows the oropharyngeal isthmus | |
Hard palate & palatine aponeurosis | Pharyngeal wall | Pharyngeal plexus (via CN X) | Depresses soft palate, elevates pharynx and larynx during swallowing and speech |
References
Helwany M, Rathee M. Anatomy, Head and Neck, Palate. [Updated 2023 Jun 5]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2025 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK557817/
Gray, H. (2016) Gray’s Anatomy: The Anatomical Basis of Clinical Practice. 41st edn. Edited by S. Standring. New York: Elsevier. Chapter 34: Pharynx, pp. 578-581.
