Tensor Veli Palatini (Left) (Musculus tensor veli palatini)

Anatomy

The tensor veli palatini is a thin, ribbon-like muscle situated anterolateral to the levator veli palatini. Arising from the sphenoid scaphoid fossa and spine and the auditory tube, its tendon hooks at a right angle around the pterygoid hamulus before expanding into the horizontal palatine aponeurosis. Uniquely among palate muscles, it is innervated by the mandibular nerve (V3).

Origin & insertion

From the scaphoid fossa of the sphenoid bone, spine of the sphenoid, and lateral lamina of the cartilaginous auditory tube, reflecting around the pterygoid hamulus, to the palatine aponeurosis and horizontal plate of the palatine bone.

Action

Tenses the soft palate horizontally; dilates and opens the lumen of the cartilaginous auditory tube during swallowing and yawning to equalize middle ear pressure.

Innervation

Nerve to medial pterygoid from the mandibular division of the trigeminal nerve (cranial nerve V3).

Clinical notes

Disruption of the tensor veli palatini tendon or cleft palate impairs auditory tube opening, directly causing chronic middle ear effusion (otitis media with effusion) in affected infants.

Related structures

• Sphenoid bone
• Left palatine bone

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