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 muscle of the soft palate and the fauces play important roles in swallowing and breathing.
Specific muscles include:
- levator veli palatini
- tensor veli palatini
- palatoglossus
- palatopharyngeus
- musculus uvulae
The salpingopharyngeus and palatopharyngeus muscles are innervated by the Vagus nerve (CN X) and the stylopharyngeas muscle is innervated by the glossopharyngeal nerve (CN IX). These three muscles as well as the superior, middle and inferior constrictor muscles (also all innervated by the Vagus nerve) make up the muscles of the pharynx.
References
This definition incorporates text from a public domain edition of Gray's Anatomy (20th U.S. edition of Gray's Anatomy of the Human Body, published in 1918 – from http://www.bartleby.com/107/).
