Palatopharyngeus muscle

Changed by Craig Hacking, 3 Apr 2017

Updates to Article Attributes

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The palatopharyngeus is a muscle of the head and neck, and one of the inner longitudinal muscles of the pharynx.

Summary

Gross anatomy

Origin

The palatopharyngeus is made up of two fasciculi attached to the superior surface of the palatine aponeurosis. The anterior fasciculus has fibres which additionally originate from the posterior border of the hard palate. The posterior fasciculus joins the posterior band of the contralateral palatopharyngeus muscle in the midline.

Insertion

The fasciculi unite at the level of the soft palate. It courses inferolaterally posterior to the tonsil and descends to attach to the posterior border of the thyroid cartilage.

Blood supply

Innervation

The muscle receives motor innervation from the cranial portion of the accessory nerve (CN XI). This occurs via the pharyngeal plexus with branches from the vagus nerve (CN X) and glossopharyngeal nerve (CN IX).

Action

  • elevation of the larynx and pharynx
  • deglutition
  • -<p>The palatopharyngeus is a muscle of the head and neck, and one of the inner longitudinal muscles of the pharynx.</p><h4>Summary</h4><ul>
  • +<p>The <strong>palatopharyngeus</strong> is a muscle of the head and neck, and one of the inner longitudinal muscles of the <a title="Oropharynx" href="/articles/oropharynx">pharynx</a>.</p><h4>Summary</h4><ul>
  • -<strong>origin</strong>: palatine aponeurosis, hard palate</li>
  • +<strong>origin</strong>: palatine aponeurosis, <a title="hard palate" href="/articles/hard-palate">hard palate</a>
  • +</li>
  • -<strong>insertion</strong>: thyroid cartilage</li>
  • +<strong>insertion</strong>: <a title="Thyroid cartilage" href="/articles/thyroid-cartilage-1">thyroid cartilage</a>
  • +</li>
  • -<strong>innervation</strong>: accessory nerve (CN XI)</li>
  • +<strong>innervation</strong>: <a title="Spinal accessory nerve (CN XI)" href="/articles/spinal-accessory-nerve">accessory nerve (CN XI)</a>
  • +</li>
  • -</ul><h4>Gross anatomy</h4><h5>Origin</h5><p>The palatopharyngeus is made up of two fasciculi attached to the superior surface of the palatine aponeurosis. The anterior fasciculus has fibres which additionally originate from the posterior border of the hard palate. The posterior fasciculus joins the posterior band of the contralateral palatopharyngeus muscle in the midline.</p><h5>Insertion</h5><p>The fasciculi unite at the level of the soft palate. It courses inferolaterally posterior to the tonsil and descends to attach to the posterior border of the thyroid cartilage.</p><h4>Blood supply</h4><ul>
  • -<li>arterial supply: greater palatine branch of the maxillary artery, ascending palatine branch of the facial artery, pharyngeal branch of the ascending pharyngeal artery</li>
  • +</ul><h4>Gross anatomy</h4><h5>Origin</h5><p>The palatopharyngeus is made up of two fasciculi attached to the superior surface of the palatine aponeurosis. The anterior fasciculus has fibres which additionally originate from the posterior border of the hard palate. The posterior fasciculus joins the posterior band of the contralateral palatopharyngeus muscle in the midline.</p><h5>Insertion</h5><p>The fasciculi unite at the level of the <a title="soft palate" href="/articles/soft-palate">soft palate</a>. It courses inferolaterally posterior to the tonsil and descends to attach to the posterior border of the thyroid cartilage.</p><h4>Blood supply</h4><ul>
  • +<li>arterial supply: <a title="greater palatine artery" href="/articles/greater-palatine-artery">greater palatine branch</a> of the <a title="Maxillary artery" href="/articles/maxillary-artery">maxillary artery</a>, ascending palatine branch of the <a title="Facial artery" href="/articles/facial-artery">facial artery</a>, pharyngeal branch of the <a title="Ascending pharyngeal artery" href="/articles/ascending-pharyngeal-artery">ascending pharyngeal artery</a>
  • +</li>
  • -</ul><h4>Innervation</h4><p>The muscle receives motor innervation from the cranial portion of the accessory nerve (CN XI). This occurs via the pharyngeal plexus</p><h4>Action</h4><ul>
  • +</ul><h4>Innervation</h4><p>The muscle receives motor innervation from the cranial portion of the accessory nerve (CN XI). This occurs via the <a title="Pharyngeal Plexus" href="/articles/pharyngeal-plexus">pharyngeal plexus</a> with branches from the <a title="Vagus nerve (CN X)" href="/articles/vagus-nerve">vagus nerve (CN X)</a> and <a title="Glossopharyngeal nerve (CN IX)" href="/articles/glossopharyngeal-nerve">glossopharyngeal nerve (CN IX)</a>.</p><h4>Action</h4><ul>

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