Musculus uvulae

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Musculus uvulae
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Details
Origin Posterior nasal spine and palatine aponeurosis
Insertion Uvula
Nerve Vagus nerve (via pharyngeal plexus)
Actions Retracts the uvula
Identifiers
Latin musculus uvulae, [1] [2]
musculus azygos uvulae, [2]
uvularis [2]
TA98 A05.2.01.104
TA2 2130
FMA 46733
Anatomical terms of muscle

The musculus uvulae [1] (also muscle of uvula, uvular muscle, or palatouvularis muscle [2] ) is a bilaterally muscle of the soft palate (one of five such muscles) that acts to shorten the uvula when both muscles contract. [3] It forms most of the mass of the uvula. [2] It is innervated by the pharyngeal plexus of vagus nerve (cranial nerve X). [3] [4]

Contents

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. [4]

Origin

The muscle arises from the posterior nasal spine of the palatine bone, and the (superior aspect of the [4] ) palatine aponeurosis. [3] [4]

Insertion

The muscle inserts into the mucous membrane of the uvula. [3] [4]

Vasculature

The muscle receives arterial blood from the ascending palatine artery, and the descending palatine artery. [4]

Actions/movements

Bilateral contraction of the two muscles shortens the uvula. [3] It also elevates [2] and retracts [4] the uvula.

Unilateral contraction draws the uvula ipsilaterally. [3]

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. [4]

References

  1. 1 2 "Anatonomina". www.terminologia-anatomica.org. Retrieved 2023-07-17.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Musculus uvulae muscle". TheFreeDictionary.com. Retrieved 2023-07-17.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Helwany, Muhammad; Rathee, Manu (2023), "Anatomy, Head and Neck, Palate", StatPearls, Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing, PMID   32491749 , retrieved 2023-07-17
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Standring, Susan (2020). Gray's Anatomy: The Anatomical Basis of Clinical Practice (42th ed.). New York. pp. 710–711. ISBN   978-0-7020-7707-4. OCLC   1201341621.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
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