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Medical Definition of Arcus palatopharyngeus
1. One of a pair of ridges or folds of mucous membrane which passes downward from the posterior margin of the soft palate to the lateral wall of the pharynx. It encloses the palatopharyngeus muscle and forms the posterior margin of the tonsillar fossa. It also demarcates the isthmus of fauces from oropharynx. Synonym: arcus palatopharyngeus, pharyngopalatine arch, posterior palatine arch, posterior pillar of fauces. (05 Mar 2000)