Head and neck muscles (chewing, facial, and throat muscles)

Palatopharyngeus

Musculus palatopharyngeus

Origin

Upper surface of the hard palate and the palatine aponeurosis, with a bundle from the pterygoid hamulus of the sphenoid bone

Insertion

Posterior border of the thyroid cartilage and the wall of the pharynx, with fibers reaching via the pharyngeal raphe to the pharyngeal tubercle of the occipital bone

Function

Elevates and narrows the pharynx during swallowing, pulls the palate downward and helps close off the nasopharynx

Innervation

Pharyngeal plexus (vagus nerve X, with a contribution from the glossopharyngeal nerve IX), motor from the nucleus ambiguus

Movement & chain

Together with palatoglossus and levator/tensor veli palatini forms the muscular layer of the soft palate; works synergistically with the pharyngeal constrictors during the pharyngeal phase of swallowing.

Palpation

Directly visualized intraorally as the posterior faucial pillar (palatopharyngeal arch).

Clinical

Paralysis (for example with a palsied vagus nerve) contributes to nasal regurgitation and an asymmetric pharyngeal arch visible when saying 'ahh'.

Segmental innervation

Motor via the nucleus ambiguus, with the vagus nerve (X) and a contribution from the glossopharyngeal nerve (IX); no spinal segment.

In clinical practice

Closes velopharyngeal port during swallowing; speech therapy for velopharyngeal insufficiency (VPI) and hypernasality post-cleft palate repair.

Region in the model

Head and neck muscles (chewing, facial, and throat muscles)