In an effort to clarify the morphologic characteristics of the palatopharyngeal muscle, we examined the origin, insertion and positional relationship with other muscles. The origin of the palatopharyngeal muscle was both the oral and nasal sides of the soft palate, being also attached to both the palatal aponeurosis and soft palate median. However, in some cases, the muscle originated on the nasal side. When the palatopharyngeal muscle originated from both the oral and nasal sides, it traveled through its insertion via the levator muscle of the palatine velum. This insertion was seen in a wide area and could be divided into three parts; the pharynx anterior, central and posterior walls. In the central pharyngeal wall, insertion into the pharyngeal aponeurosis, inferior constrictor pharyngeal muscle and esophagus were observed. The present results suggest that the palatopharyngeal muscle has a close positional relationship with the levator and tensor muscles of the palatine velum, the pharyngeal constrictor muscles and the esophagus.
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