The palatoglossus muscles: elevate the back of the tongue, move the palatoglossal arches of mucosa toward the midline, and depress the soft palate.
These movements facilitate closing of the oropharyngeal isthmus and as a result separate the oral cavity from the oropharynx.
Unlike other muscles of the tongue, but similar to most other muscles of the soft palate, the palatoglossus muscles are innervated by the vagus nerves [X].