abnormal levator veli palatini muscle morphology small levator veli palatini muscle 2017-10-18T09:31:31Z small levator muscle of the velum palatinum small levator palati MP:0030295 small levator veli palatini reduced size of the paired cylindrical muscle that forms a V-shaped sling behind and above the soft palate; it originates from the apex of the inferior surface of the petrous temporal bone and the medial rim of the auditory tube, and inserts into the palatine aponeurosis between the two heads of palatopharyngeus; it elevates and laterally deviates the soft palate; it also aids the tensor veli palatini in opening the auditory tube on swallowing to allow equalization of pressure between the middle ear and pharynx small musculus levator veli palatini small levator veli small levator muscle of the soft palate MPheno.ontology