levator veli palatini

Levator veli palatini (innervated by the vagus nerve)

Through the pharyngeal branch it probably supplies the Musculus uvulæ and Levator veli palatini.

It arises from the soft palate, where it is divided into two fasciculi by the levator veli palatini and musculus uvulae.

It serves as the insertion for the Tensor veli palatini and Levator veli palatini, and the origin for the Musculus uvulae, Palatopharyngeus, and Palatoglossus.

The tensor veli palatini tenses the soft palate and by doing so, assists the levator veli palatini in elevating the palate to occlude and prevent entry of food into the nasopharynx during swallowing.

The muscles supplied by the vagus (included with this is the cranial part of the accessory nerve), such as levator veli palatini, are also necessary to swallow properly through integration by the nucleus of the solitary tract.

The palatine velum is slightly raised by the levator veli palatini and made tense by the tensor veli palatini; the palatopharyngeus muscles, by their contraction, pull the pharynx upward over the bolus of food and nearly come together, the uvula filling up the slight interval between them.