Muscle
Tensor veli palatini
Tenses the palate and helps open the auditory tube
High-yield
Tensor veli palatini receives V3 through the nerve to medial pterygoid. It is the usual motor-supply exception among the soft-palate muscles, whose main supply is vagal.
Overview
Tensor veli palatini descends beside the pharynx from the sphenoid and auditory tube. Its tendon changes direction around the pterygoid hamulus and spreads into the palatine aponeurosis, transmitting tension across the soft palate.
Reference facts
- Origin
- Sphenoid scaphoid fossa and spine, and the cartilaginous auditory tube
- Insertion
- Palatine aponeurosis after the tendon turns around the pterygoid hamulus
- Innervation
- Nerve to medial pterygoid, from V3
- Action
- Tensions the soft palate and helps open the auditory tube during swallowing and yawning
- Blood supply
- Branches of the maxillary artery, including the lesser palatine arterial supply
Clinical correlation
Opening the auditory tube during swallowing helps ventilate the middle ear. Children’s shorter, more horizontal tubes are one factor contributing to their greater susceptibility to middle-ear infection.
Frequently asked questions
What does the tensor veli palatini do?
The tensor veli palatini tensions the soft palate and helps open the auditory tube during swallowing and yawning.
What nerve innervates the tensor veli palatini?
The tensor veli palatini is innervated by the nerve to medial pterygoid, from V3.
Where does the tensor veli palatini attach?
The tensor veli palatini originates from the sphenoid scaphoid fossa and spine, and the cartilaginous auditory tube and inserts on the palatine aponeurosis after the tendon turns around the pterygoid hamulus.
What is the blood supply of the tensor veli palatini?
Branches of the maxillary artery, including the lesser palatine arterial supply.