Anterior coronal view of palate and nasopharynx. The torus tubarius is the cartilaginous opening of the pharyngoympanic (Eustachian) tube into the nasopharynx. The tensor veli palatini (cut) is a muscle of the soft palate that attaches to the lateral wall of the pharyngotympanic tube and its contraction during swallowing assists in equilibrating pressure within the middle ear cavity. The maxillary nerve passes through foramen rotundum and Vidian's nerve through the pterygoid canal on their way to the pterygopalatine fossa. The mandibular nerve passes through the foramen ovale to enter the infratemporal fossa where motor branches will innervate the tensor veli palatini. (Image courtesy of AL Rhoton, Jr.)