Anatomy of levator veli palatini and tensor veli palatini.

<p>Left: Schematic representation of the levator veli palatini and tensor veli palatini muscles. Right: (A) The levator veli palatini muscle arises from the inferior surface of the temporal bone, lateral and posterior from the tympanic bulla. The tympanic bulla is a bony projection of the temporal bone containing the tympanic cavity. (B) Posterior to the pterygoid process, the levator veli palatini continues towards the soft palate. The glossopharyngeal, vagus and hypoglossal nerves are visible between the levator veli palatini and the skull base. (C) The tensor veli palatini originates from the inferior surface of the sphenoid bone, the lateral surface of the perygoid plate, and the auditory tube. (D) The tendon of the tensor veli palatini turns around a curved process; the pterygoid hamulus. It continues medially towards the soft palate and forms the palatine aponeurosis. LVP: levator veli palatini muscle, TVP: tensor veli palatini muscle, IX: glossopharyngeus nerve, X: vagus nerve, XII: hypoglossus nerve, Ty: Tympanic bulla, At: auditory tube, H: pterygoid hamulus, Pt: pterygoid process, PNS: posterior nasal spine, S: soft palate.