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Musculus uvulae
Other Terms:
Uvulae,
Musculus uvulae,
Muscle uvulaire
Muscle parts
None
Latin name
Musculus uvulae
Latin muscle parts
None
Group
Branchial arch muscle – fourth arch (Muscle of soft palate and fauces)
Etymology
The English name for this muscle is the little grape muscle. The word uvulae comes from the Latin uva meaning “grape” and the diminutive ending ula meaning “little.” Early anatomists thought that this looked like a little grape dangling off the back of the soft palate.
Origin
Posterior spine of the palatine bone and dorsal surface of the palatine aponeurosis
Insertion
Tunica mucosa of the uvula
Action
Elevates and shortens the uvula to assist with closure of the nasopharynx.
Nerve supply
Vagus nerve (Cranial nerve X)
Blood supply
The ascending palatine artery, which is one of the cervical branches of the facial artery and the greater palatine artery, a terminal branch of the descending palatine artery from the third part of the maxillary artery.
Latin
Musculus uvulae
French
Muscle uvulaire