Salpingopharyngeus muscle

Origin and insertion

Salpingopharyngeus muscle originates from the cartilaginous part of the auditory tube, more specifically from its inferior part that bounds the tube’s nasopharyngeal opening. It courses inferiorly and inserts by fusing with the palatopharyngeus muscle in the oropharynx. 

Relations

The muscle is located posteriorly to torus tubarius, coursing through the vertical fold of the nasopharyngeal mucous membrane called the salpingopharyngeal fold. 

Levator veli palatini muscle courses posteriorly to the salpingopharyngeus origin. At the posterolateral border of soft palate, the muscle fuses inferiorly with the fibers of palatopharyngeus. 

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Innervation

The salpingopharyngeus muscle is innervated by branches of pharyngeal plexus that carry the fibers from the vagus nerve (CN X).

Blood supply

The muscle is supplied from the ascending palatine branch of facial artery, greater palatine branch of maxillary artery and the pharyngeal branch of ascending pharyngeal artery.

Function

Salpingopharyngeus muscle elevates the pharynx by shortening and widening its lumen, which facilitates speaking and swallowing. It also assists the tensor veli palatini muscle to open the auditory tube during swallowing, which is a method used by some people to deliberately equalize the pressure between the middle ear and the environment.