musculus uvulae
{{Short description|Human muscle}}
{{Infobox muscle|Name=Musculus uvulae|Latin=musculus uvulae,
musculus azygos uvulae,
uvularis|Image=Gray1028.png|Caption=|Image2=|Caption2=|Origin=Posterior nasal spine and palatine aponeurosis|Insertion=Uvula|Blood=|Nerve=Vagus nerve (via pharyngeal plexus)|Action=Retracts the uvula|Antagonist=}}The musculus uvulae{{Cite web |title=Anatonomina |url=http://www.terminologia-anatomica.org/en/Terms/Occurence/2476 |access-date=2023-07-17 |website=www.terminologia-anatomica.org}} (also muscle of uvula, uvular muscle, or palatouvularis muscle{{Cite web |title=Musculus uvulae muscle |url=https://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/Musculus+uvulae+muscle |access-date=2023-07-17 |website=TheFreeDictionary.com}}) is a bilaterally muscle of the soft palate (one of five such muscles) that acts to shorten the uvula when both muscles contract.{{Citation |last=Helwany |first=Muhammad |title=Anatomy, Head and Neck, Palate |date=2023 |url=http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK557817/ |work=StatPearls |access-date=2023-07-17 |place=Treasure Island (FL) |publisher=StatPearls Publishing |pmid=32491749 |last2=Rathee |first2=Manu}} It forms most of the mass of the uvula. It is innervated by the pharyngeal plexus of vagus nerve (cranial nerve X).{{Cite book |last=Standring |first=Susan |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/1201341621 |title=Gray's Anatomy: The Anatomical Basis of Clinical Practice |year=2020 |isbn=978-0-7020-7707-4 |edition=42th |location=New York |pages=710–711 |oclc=1201341621}}
Anatomy
The muscle is situated in between the two laminae of the palatine aponeurosis. From its origin, it passes posterior-ward superior to the swing that is formed by the levator veli palatini muscle. The musculus uvulae and levator veli palatini muscle form a right angle so that their contraction elevates the levator eminence to aid in separating the oral cavity and the oropharynx.
= Origin =
The muscle arises from the posterior nasal spine of the palatine bone, and the (superior aspect of the) palatine aponeurosis.
= Insertion =
The muscle inserts into the mucous membrane of the uvula.
= Vasculature =
The muscle receives arterial blood from the ascending palatine artery, and the descending palatine artery.
= Actions/movements =
Function
By retracting the uvula and thickening the middle portion of the soft palate, the muscle assist the levator veli palatini in separating the oral cavity and the oropharynx.
References
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