levator veli palatini

US/lɪˈveɪ.tɚ ˌviˌlaɪ ˌpæl.əˈtaɪˌnaɪ/

noun

A muscle arising from the temporal bone and the cartilage of the Eustachian tube and descending to insert into the midline of the soft palate which it elevates especially to close the nasopharynx while swallowing is taking place to prevent regurgitation of liquid or solid matter through the nose.

OriginNew Latin levātor vēlī palātīnī →
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Meanings

nounlevator veli palatini (plural levatores veli palatini)

plural levatores veli palatini

  1. anatomyA muscle arising from the temporal bone and the cartilage of the Eustachian tube and descending to insert into the midline of the soft palate which it elevates especially to close the nasopharynx while swallowing is taking place to prevent regurgitation of liquid or solid matter through the nose.

Origin

  1. New Latinlevātor vēlī palātīnī“lifter of the palatine veil”
  2. Englishlevator veli palatini

Borrowed from New Latin levātor vēlī palātīnī (“lifter of the palatine veil”).

More words from New Latin

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Chinese Mandarin 腭帆提肌, 顎帆提肌 /颚帆提肌
  • 腭帆提肌muscle
  • 顎帆提肌 /颚帆提肌muscle
  • 提腭帆肌muscle
  • 提顎帆肌 /提颚帆肌muscle
Cite this entry
APA

levator veli palatini. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/levator%20veli%20palatini

MLA

“levator veli palatini.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/levator%20veli%20palatini. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “levator veli palatini,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/levator%20veli%20palatini.

Source: levator veli palatini on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.