[1] The sites of origin of the muscles collectively are the pterygoid hamulus (and occasionally the adjoining posterior margin of the medial pterygoid plate) anteriorly, (the posterior margin of) the pterygomandibular raphe, the posterior extremity of the mylohyoid line of mandible, and (negligibly) the side of the tongue.

[1] Four parts of the muscle are distinguished according to the origin:[citation needed] The muscle's fibres extend posterior-ward from its origin to form the midline pharyngeal raphe which then attaches onto the pharyngeal tubercle (of the basilar part of the occipital bone).

[1] The interval between the upper border of the muscle and the base of the skull is closed by the pharyngeal aponeurosis, and is known as the sinus of Morgagni.

[2] The superior fibers arch beneath the levator veli palatini muscle and the Eustachian tube.

[citation needed] This article incorporates text in the public domain from page 1143 of the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)