Origin Palatine aponeurosis Latin Musculus palatoglossus | Insertion Tongue Dorlands
/Elsevier m_22/12550045 | |
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Nerve Vagus nerve (via pharyngeal branch to pharyngeal plexus) Actions Raising the back part of the tongue | ||
The palatoglossus, glossopalatinus, or palatoglossal muscle is a small fleshy fasciculus, narrower in the middle than at either end, forming, with the mucous membrane covering its surface, the glossopalatine arch.
Contents
Structure
Palatoglossus arises from the palatine aponeurosis of the soft palate, where it is continuous with the muscle of the opposite side, and passing downward, forward, and lateralward in front of the palatine tonsil, is inserted into the side of the tongue, some of its fibers spreading over the dorsum, and others passing deeply into the substance of the organ to intermingle with the transverse muscle of tongue.
Innervation
Palatoglossus is the only muscle of the tongue that is not innervated by the hypoglossal nerve (CN XII). It is innervated by the vagus nerve (CNX).
Variation
But some sources state that the palatoglossus is innervated by fibres from the cranial part of the accessory nerve (CN XI) that travel via the pharyngeal plexus.
Other sources state that the palatoglossus is not innervated by XI hitchhiking on X, but rather it is innervated by IX via the pharyngeal plexus formed from IX and X.
Function
Elevates posterior tongue, closes the oropharyngeal isthmus, and aids initiation of swallowing. This muscle also prevents the spill of saliva from vestibule into the oropharynx by maintaining the palatoglossal arch.