| elevator muscle of soft palate | <anatomy, muscle> 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: musculus levator veli palatini, elevator muscle of soft palate, levator palati muscle, musculus levator palati, musculus petrostaphylinus. (05 Mar 2000) |
|---|---|
| falling palate | Relaxation or elongation of the uvula. Synonym: falling palate, staphylodialysis, staphyloptosis, uvulaptosis. Origin: uvulo-+ G. Ptosis, a falling (05 Mar 2000) |