Actions
The tensor veli palatini tenses the soft palate and by doing so, assists the levator veli palatini in elevating the palate to occlude and prevent entry of food into the nasopharynx during swallowing. The tensed palate consequently provides a stable platform for elevation of the pharynx during swallowing by the pharyngeal muscles. Since it is also attached to the lateral cartilaginous lamina of the auditory tube, it assists in its opening during swallowing or yawning to allow air pressure to equalize between the tympanic cavity and the outside air. Equalization of air pressure in the tympanic cavity is essential for preventing damage to the tympanic membrane and a resulting loss of hearing acuity.
Read more about this topic: Tensor Veli Palatini Muscle
Famous quotes containing the word actions:
“I judge a man by his actions with men, much more than by his declarations Godwards—When I find him to be envious, carping, spiteful, hating the successes of others, and complaining that the world has never done enough for him, I am apt to doubt whether his humility before God will atone for his want of manliness.”
—Anthony Trollope (1815–1882)
“One will seldom go wrong in attributing extreme actions to vanity, moderate ones to habit, and petty ones to fear.”
—Friedrich Nietzsche (1844–1900)
“As soon as we exceed average human goodness by even a single step, our actions arouse suspicion. Virtue stands steadily “in the middle.””
—Friedrich Nietzsche (1844–1900)