Anatomy & Histology · single question
Which muscle DEPRESSES the soft palate?
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Correct answer: B. Palatoglossus
Palatoglossus depresses the soft palate; tensor and levator veli palatini tense/elevate it.
- A. Incorrect. Levator veli palatini ELEVATES the soft palate — important for swallowing and Eustachian tube function.
- B. Correct. The PALATOGLOSSUS muscle depresses (lowers) the soft palate when the tongue is raised, and ELEVATES the posterior tongue. It runs from the soft palate to the lateral tongue. (Note: palatoglossus is unique — it is innervated by the vagus nerve/CN X via the pharyngeal plexus, NOT by the facial nerve.)
- C. Incorrect. Tensor veli palatini TENSES the soft palate and opens the Eustachian tube.
- D. Incorrect. Palatopharyngeus DEPRESSES the palate AND narrows the fauces during swallowing — it is also a depressor but the classic answer for 'depresses soft palate' is palatoglossus.
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