levator veli palatini muscle


le·va·tor ve·li pa·la·ti·ni mus·cle

(le-vā'tŏr vē'lī pal-ă-tī'nī mŭs'ĕl) Origin, apex of petrous portion of temporal bone and lower part of cartilaginous auditory (eustachian) tube; insertion, aponeurosis of soft palate; action, raises soft palate; through the expansion of its fleshy belly during contraction, it helps to "push" open the auditory tube; nerve supply, pharyngeal plexus (cranial root of accessory nerve).
Synonym(s): musculus levator veli palatini [TA] , elevator muscle of soft palate.