Musculus uvulae
Musculus uvulae
The Musculus uvulae (pronounced: muhs-kyuh-luhs yoo-vyuh-lee) is a muscle that forms a significant part of the soft palate in the human body.
Etymology
The term 'Musculus uvulae' is derived from Latin, where 'musculus' means 'muscle' and 'uvula' refers to 'grape'. This is due to the grape-like shape of the uvula when viewed from the front.
Function
The primary function of the Musculus uvulae is to assist in the closing of the nasopharynx during swallowing and speaking, preventing food and liquid from entering the nasal cavity. It also plays a role in the articulation of certain phonetic sounds.
Anatomy
The Musculus uvulae is a paired muscle that extends along the posterior edge of the hard palate, continuing into the uvula. It is innervated by the Pharyngeal branch of the Vagus nerve.
Related Terms
- Soft palate: The soft part at the back of the roof of the mouth, made up of muscle fibers and connective tissue.
- Nasopharynx: The upper part of the throat that lies behind the nose.
- Hard palate: The bony front part of the palate.
- Vagus nerve: The tenth cranial nerve that interfaces with the parasympathetic control of the heart, lungs, and digestive tract.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Musculus uvulae
- Wikipedia's article - Musculus uvulae
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