[TA] origin, soft palate; forms the posterior pillar of the fauces or tonsillar fossa; insertion, posterior border of thyroid cartilage and aponeurosis of pharynx as it becomes part of the inner longitudinal muscle layer of the pharynx; action, narrows fauces, depresses soft palate, elevates pharynx and larynx; nerve supply, pharyngeal plexus (cranial root of accessory nerve). SYN: musculus palatopharyngeus [TA], musculus pharyngopalatinus, palatopharyngeal (muscle), palatopharyngeus, pharyngopalatinus, pharyngostaphylinus.