Tensor Veli Palatini

Tensor Veli Palatini

This paired muscle, the tensor veli palatini originates over an area that includes the medial pterygoid plate of the sphenoid, the spine of the sphenoid and importantly on the lateral surface of the cartilage that forms the eustachian (auditory) tube. It inserts on a band of connective tissue that runs along the posterior edge of the hard palate. When contracted it has two effects: it tenses the palatal aponeurosis which anchors other muscles, so it acts as a synergist to their actions and importantly also helps open the eustachian tube to equalize the pressure in the middle ear. It is activated when swallowing which is why swallowing helps relieve the pressure buildup in the ear when changing altitude especially noticeable when flying. It is innervated by a branch of the nerve to the medial pterygoid which one should remember is a muscle of mastication and therefore originates from the third division of the trigeminal nerve (cranial nerve V3 – cranial nerve V - 3rd division). It is the only palatal muscle not innervated by the vagus (cranial nerve X).