Quick Facts
Origin: Horizontal plate of palatine bone; palatine aponeurosis.
Insertion: Lateral wall of pharynx; posterior border of thyroid cartilage.
Action: Pulls the pharynx in superior, anterior and medial directions; tenses soft palate.
Innervation: Pharyngeal plexus (CN X).
Arterial Supply: Ascending palatine, greater palatine, and ascending pharyngeal arteries.
Related parts of the anatomy
Origin
The palatopharyngeus muscle consists of two muscular bundles that originate from the horizontal plate of palatine bone and the upper portion of the palatine aponeurosis. The muscular bundles are separated by the levator veli palatini muscle (Standring, 2016).
Insertion
The two muscular bands of the palatopharyngeus muscle merge at the posterolateral border of the soft palate, where they also blend with the salpingopharyngeus muscle. It inserts into the lateral aspect of the pharynx and the posterior aspect of the thyroid cartilage (Standring, 2016).
Key Features & Anatomical Relations
The palatopharyngeus muscle and its overlying mucosal layer form the palatopharyngeal arches (palatopharyngeal fold or posterior pillar/column of fauces) on either side of the oropharynx.
Actions
The palatopharyngeus muscle pulls the pharynx in superior, anterior and medial directions. This action is used when swallowing. The palatopharyngeus muscle tenses the soft palate by drawing the palatopharyngeal arches anteriorly (Standring, 2016).
References
Standring, S. (2016) Gray's Anatomy: The Anatomical Basis of Clinical Practice. Gray's Anatomy Series 41st edn.: Elsevier Limited.
Learn more about this topic from other Elsevier products
Palatopharyngeus Muscle
The longitudinal muscles are the stylopharyngeus, salpingopharyngeus, and palatopharyngeus muscles, and they elevate and shorten the pharynx during swallowing.
