ABSTRACT
The treatment of velopharyngeal dysfunction is challenging due to the complex anatomy of the velopharyngeal sphincter, which is responsible for separating the nasal cavity from the mouth during speech and swallowing. The velopharyngeal sphincter is comprised of three muscles: the levator veli palatini, the uvularis, and the superior constrictor muscle. The first two muscles are palatal muscles. The levator veli palatini elevates the palate, and the uvularis, located centrally, creates a bulge on the nasopharyngeal surface of the soft palate, aiding in sphincter closure (Fig. 1) (1). Typically, the levator veli palatini muscle is the major contributor to sphincter closure. The third muscle, the superior constrictor muscle, contributes to closure laterally and posteriorly and effects a coronal pattern to velopharyngeal closure (Fig. 2) (2,3).
