title: Palatopharyngeus the missing palatal muscles: Anatomical and physiological review.
abstract: The first true anatomical descriptions of the normal anatomy of the palate and pharynx were published by Von Luschka in 1868, and then in 1935 anatomist James Whillis described pharyngeal sphincter. Later, in 1941 Michael Oldfield noted that the muscular elements of the soft palate have a sling-like function. Although there have been conflicting descriptions of the role of the palatopharyngeus, multiple function such as speech, swallowing, and respiration, it could role in all this function. Although, the palatopharyngeus muscle has many important functions, but it remains the missing muscle that we need to know more about it.
authors.affiliation: Department of ENT, Faculty of Medicine, Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt.
authors.forename: Abdelrahman E M
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Ezzat
authors.affiliation: Department Oral Surgery and Medicine, Orodental Division, National Research Centre, Cairo, Egypt.
authors.forename: Hanna M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: El-Shenawy
keywords: Anatomy; palatal muscles; palatopharyngeus; physiology