(anatomy) A muscle whose contraction causes the raising of a part of the body.

plural of levator

The act of raising; elevation or upward motion, such as that produced by the action of a levator muscle

(anatomy) a broad, thin muscle, situated on the side of the pelvis, that forms part of the pelvic floor. In humans it supports the viscera in pelvic cavity and in quadruped animals with tails it is the muscle used to wag the tail.

One of the small deep muscles connecting the ribs to the vertebrae of the posterior spine, that are used to elevate the ribs.

One of the facial muscles that lift the lips, open the mouth, and flare the nostrils.

(anatomy) A thin flat extrinsic muscle of the eye arising from the lesser wing of the sphenoid bone, passing forward and downward over the superior rectus, and inserting into the tarsal plate of the skin of the upper eyelid which it elevates.

(anatomy) A facial muscle arising from the lower margin of the orbit and inserting into the muscular substance of the upper lip which it elevates.

(anatomy) A facial muscle that arises from the maxilla, inclines downward to be inserted into the corner of the mouth, and draws the lips up and back.

(anatomy) A muscle arising from the temporal bone and the cartilage of the Eustachian tube and descending to insert into the midline of the soft palate which it elevates especially to close the nasopharynx while swallowing is taking place to prevent regurgitation of liquid or solid matter through the nose.