tensor veli palatini

Introduction

Tensor muscle of soft palate.

Origin

• scaphoid fossa of sphenoid
• cartilagenous & membranous part of auditory (eustachian) tube
• spine of sphenoid

Insertion

• posterior border of hard palate
• aponeurosis of soft palate

Action

• tenses soft palate
• contributes to opening of the auditory tube

Innervation

• branches of the trigeminal nerve (CN V) via the otic ganglion

More general terms

• skeletal muscle (voluntary muscle)