The tensor veli palatini is a thin and triangular-shaped muscle of the soft palate that stretches between the sphenoid bone of the skull and the palatine aponeurosis. It lies lateral to the medial plate of the pterygoid process, auditory tube and levator veli palatini muscle.

Origin: scaphoid fossa of the pterygoid process and medial aspect of the spine of the sphenoid bone. Between both origin sites, the fibers of this muscle also attach to the anterolateral portion and lateral lamina of the cartilaginous part of the auditory tube. These fibers of the tensor veli palatini are sometimes referred to as the dilator tubae. Inferiorly, the fibers converge into a tendon that wraps around the pterygoid hamulus of the sphenoid bone, and the muscle becomes even more tendinous and reaches the insertion site.

Insertion: palatine aponeurosis via pulley of pterygoid hamulus.

Action: tenses the soft palate and expands the auditory tube during swallowing. This muscle pulls the auditory tube (for example, during yawning or swallowing) and opens it to equalize air pressure between the middle ear and the pharynx.

Innervation: nerve to medial pterygoid - a branch of the mandibular nerve (CN V3).

Blood supply: ascending palatine artery (branch of the facial artery) and greater palatine artery (branch of the descending palatine artery).

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Tensor veli palatini muscle