Palatopharyngeal arch
Arcus palatopharyngeus
- Latin synonym: Plica posterior faucium
- Synonym: Palatopharyngeal fold; Posterior pillar of fauces
- Related terms: Palatopharyngeal arch; Posterior pillar of fauces
Definition
The pharyngopalatine arch (arcus pharyngopalatinus; posterior pillar of fauces) is larger and projects further toward the middle line than the anterior; it runs downward, lateralward, and backward to the side of the pharynx, and is formed by the projection of the Pharyngopalatinus, covered by mucous membrane. On either side the two arches are separated below by a triangular interval, in which the palatine tonsil is lodged.
This definition incorporates text from a public domain edition of Gray's Anatomy (20th U.S. edition of Gray's Anatomy of the Human Body, published in 1918 – from http://www.bartleby.com/107/).
