Medical Dictionary

levator veli palatini

noun levator ve·li pal·a·ti·ni \-ˈvē-ˌlī-ˌpal-ə-ˈtī-ˌnī\

Medical Definition of LEVATOR VELI PALATINI

:  a muscle arising from the temporal bone and the cartilage of the eustachian tube and descending to insert into the midline of the soft palate which it elevates especially to close the nasopharynx while swallowing is taking place to prevent regurgitation of liquid or solid matter through the nose

Browse

How to use a word that (literally) drives some people nuts.
Test your vocab with our fun, fast game
Ailurophobia, and 9 other unusual fears