The palatopharyngeus is a muscle of the pharynx. It is also considered to be a muscle of the soft palate.
- Attachments: Originates from the hard palate of the oral cavity and inserts onto the pharyngeal wall.
- Actions: Elevates the pharynx during swallowing
- Innervation: Vagus nerve (CN X).
- Blood supply: Ascending pharyngeal artery (a branch of the external carotid artery) and tonsillar branch of the facial artery.
By TeachMeSeries Ltd (2025)
Fig 3
Posterior view of the pharynx. The pharynx has been split down the midline and opened, to show the longitudinal muscles.