Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 30, 2026

Musculus uvulae

The musculus uvulae is a bilaterally muscle of the soft palate that acts to shorten the uvula when both muscles contract. It forms most of the mass of the uvula. It is innervated by the pharyngeal plexus of vagus nerve.

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Musculus uvulae
Details
OriginPosterior nasal spine and palatine aponeurosis
InsertionUvula
NerveVagus nerve (via pharyngeal plexus)
ActionsRetracts the uvula
Identifiers
Latinmusculus uvulae,12
musculus azygos uvulae,2
uvularis2
TA98A05.2.01.104
TA22130
FMA46733
Anatomical terms of muscle

The musculus uvulae1 (also muscle of uvula, uvular muscle, or palatouvularis muscle2) 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).34

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 the4) palatine aponeurosis.34

Insertion

The muscle inserts into the mucous membrane of the uvula.34

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 elevates2 and retracts4 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

References

  1. "Anatonomina". www.terminologia-anatomica.org. Retrieved 2023-07-17.
  2. "Musculus uvulae muscle". TheFreeDictionary.com. Retrieved 2023-07-17.
  3. Helwany, Muhammad; Rathee, Manu (2023), "Anatomy, Head and Neck, Palate", StatPearls, Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing, PMID 32491749, retrieved 2023-07-17
  4. 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)