Praxis SLP Licensure Exam

What is the primary muscle involved in elevating the soft palate?

1. palatoglossus

2. levator veli palatini

3. tensor veli palatini

4. orbicularis oris

The correct answer is: levator veli palatini

The primary muscle involved in elevating the soft palate is the levator veli palatini. This muscle plays a crucial role in the function of the soft palate, particularly during swallowing and speech. When the levator veli palatini contracts, it pulls the soft palate upward and backward, effectively closing off the nasal passages from the oral cavity. This action is essential for preventing food and liquids from entering the nasal cavity when swallowing and is also significant in producing certain speech sounds that require the velopharyngeal closure. Other muscles related to the soft palate and elevation include the palatoglossus, which primarily assists in raising the back of the tongue rather than the soft palate itself, and the tensor veli palatini, which primarily tenses the soft palate but does not elevate it significantly. The orbicularis oris, on the other hand, is a muscle of the mouth involved in movements of the lips and is not responsible for soft palate elevation. Understanding these distinctions helps clarify the specific roles of each muscle in speech and swallowing mechanics.