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Front 1

TENSOR VELI PALATINI

Back 1

2. Tensor veli palatini

a. Origin: scaphoid fossa and the cartilaginous part of the auditory tube

b. Insertion: descends vertically from its origin; its tendon then bends
medially, at a right angle, within the groove of the pterygoid hamu-
lus and fans out into the aponeurosis within the soft palate

c. Action: in order for levator veli palatini to elevate the soft palate, the
aponeurosis within the soft palate must first be tensed and stabilized
by tensor veli palatini

d. Located anterior and lateral to levator veli palatini and medial to the
otic ganglion and mandibular nerve

Front 2

MUSCULUS UVULAE

Back 2

3. Musculus uvulae

a. Origin: posterior nasal spine

b. Insertion: uvula

c. Action: elevation and lateral deviaton of the uvula

Front 3

INNERVATION

MUSCLES OF TONGUE

Back 3

4. Innervation: vagus nerve via the pharyngeal plexus, except tensor veli
palatini, which is innervated by the nerve to the tensor veli palatini, a
branch of the nerve to the medial pterygoid, which, in turn, is a branch
of the mandibular nerve

Front 4

GREATER PALATINE NERVE

Back 4

1. Greater palatine nerve: arises from the maxillary nerve in the ptery go-
palatine fossa and descends in the greater palatine canal; emerges from
the greater palatine foramen and courses anteriorly within the mucosa of
the hard palate, providing sensory innervation as far as the incisor teeth

Front 5

LESSER PALATINE NERVES

Back 5

2. Lesser palatine nerves: arise from the maxillary nerve in the pterygo-
palatine fossa and descend in the greater palatine canal; emerge through
the lesser palatine foramina to provide sensory innervation to the soft
palate

Front 6

NASOPALATINE NERVE

Back 6

3. Nasopalatine nerve: largest posterior superior medial nasal nerve given
off by the maxillary nerve within the pterygopalatine fossa; enters the nasal cavity through the sphenopalatine foramen, descends anteriorly
on the nasal septum, and passes through the incisive canal and incisive
fossa to provide sensory innervation to the hard palate, posterior to the
upper incisors