Meanings
plural palatopharyngei · alternative palatopharyngeal
- anatomyA long, fleshy longitudinal muscle, narrower in the middle than at either end, that arises from the soft palate, contributes with the mucous membrane covering its surface to the structure of the palatopharyngeal arch, and is inserted into the thyroid cartilage and the wall of the pharynx; it serves to constrict the fauces and draw the larynx and pharynx upwards.
Synonyms: pharyngopalatinus
Synonyms & antonyms
nounA long, fleshy longitudinal muscle, narrower in the middle than at either end, that arises from the soft palate, contributes with the mucous membrane covering its surface to the structure of the palatopharyngeal arch, and is inserted into the thyroid cartilage and the wall of the pharynx; it serves to constrict the fauces and draw the larynx and pharynx upwards.
Origin
- Late Latinpalātopharyngeus
- Englishpalatopharyngeus
Borrowed from Late Latin palātopharyngeus, clipping of mūsculus palātopharyngeus (“palatopharyngeal muscle”). Doublet of palatopharyngeal.
More words from Late Latin
Full word history & related roots →Rhymes & wordplay
Rhymes with palatopharyngeus
All rhymes →Cite this entry
palatopharyngeus. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/palatopharyngeus
“palatopharyngeus.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/palatopharyngeus. Accessed November 5, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “palatopharyngeus,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/palatopharyngeus.
Source: palatopharyngeus on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.