The levator palati (levator veli palatini) is a long, thick, rounded muscle that raises the soft palate and opens the eustachian tube during swallowing. The lower end of the eustachian tube opens during swallowing to allow air to flow into the middle ear and equalize the air pressure on both sides of the tympanic membrane. The levator palati originates from the temporal bone and inserts in the palatine aponeurosis. The levator palati is innervated the pharyngeal branch of vagus nerve and by fibres from cranial accessory nerve. Research Levator Palati