Palatopharyngeus muscle

Origin: Palatine aponeurosis and hard palate

Insertion: Upper border of thyroid cartilage (blends with constrictor fibers)

Artery: Facial artery

Nerve: Vagus nerve and cranial accessory nerve

Action: Pulls pharynx and larynx

Description: 
The Palatopharyngeus muscle (Pharyngopalatinus) is a long, fleshy fasciculus narrower in the middle than at either end, forming, with the mucous membrane covering its surface, the pharyngopalatine arch. It is separated from the Glossopalatinus 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 and Tensor, and joins in the middle line the corresponding part of the opposite muscle.

Passing lateralward and downward behind the palatine tonsil, the Pharyngopalatinus 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.