levator veli palatini

Introduction

Muscle of the soft palate.

Origin

• apex of the petrous portion of the temporal bone & lower part of the cartilagenous pharyngotympanic (auditory) tube

Insertion

• aponeurosis of the soft palate

Action

• raises the soft palate
• by expansion of its fleshy belly during contraction, it helps to push open the auditory tube for equilibration of pressure in the inner ear with that of the pharynx

Innervation

• pharyngeal plexus, cranial root of accessory nerve (CN XI)

More general terms

• skeletal muscle (voluntary muscle)