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The genioglossus is an extrinsic muscle of the tongue that is responsible for moving the tongue forward and widening the oropharyngeal airway during inspiration. It is innervated by the hypoglossal nerve and is involved in preventing the collapse of the airway during breathing. The genioglossus muscle can influence the hyoid bone and its size can affect the function of the temporomandibular joint. The muscle also plays a role in food manipulation, allowing the tongue to move food around the mouth for digestion. The genioglossus is implicated in obstructive sleep apnea, where relaxation of the muscle can lead to airway collapse.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type | One of the four extrinsic muscles of the tongue |
| Origin of Name | From the Greek words geneion (chin) and glossa (tongue) |
| Function | Protrusion and depression of the tongue |
| Innervation | Hypoglossal nerve |
| Blood Supply | Lingual artery with contributions from the tonsillar artery |
| Embryological Relationship | Close relationship between the genioglossus, the base of the skull (occipital bone), and the hyoid bone |
| Muscle Function | Influences the hyoid bone; the muscle size can affect the function of the temporomandibular joint |
| Role in Sleep Apnea | Relaxation of the genioglossus muscle during REM sleep is implicated in obstructive sleep apnea |
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What You'll Learn
- The genioglossal muscles are a group of extrinsic muscles that determine the movement of the tongue
- The genioglossal muscles are supplied blood by the external carotid artery
- The genioglossus muscle can influence the hyoid bone and the temporomandibular joint
- The genioglossus muscle is electrically involved in the generation of maximal sniff nasal inspiratory and expiratory pressures
- The genioglossus muscle plays a role in enlarging and stabilising the upper portion of the respiratory tract
The genioglossal muscles are a group of extrinsic muscles that determine the movement of the tongue
The genioglossus is an extrinsic muscle of the tongue. It is one of four extrinsic muscles, the others being the hyoglossus (chondroglossus), styloglossus, and the palatoglossus. These muscles work together to determine the movement of the tongue, while the intrinsic muscles determine the tongue's shape. The genioglossus is a large, thick muscle that significantly contributes to the tongue's shape. It arises from the mandibular symphysis and inserts onto the body of the hyoid bone and the entire length of the tongue.
The name "genioglossus" comes from the Greek words "γένειον" (geneion), meaning "chin," and "γλῶσσα" (glōssa), meaning "tongue." The earliest recorded mention of the term was by Helkiah Crooke in the early seventeenth century. The muscle is innervated by the hypoglossal nerve, as are all tongue muscles except for the palatoglossus. The genioglossus muscles receive blood from the sublingual branch of the lingual artery, a branch of the external carotid artery.
The left and right genioglossus muscles protrude the tongue (anteriorly, out of the mouth) and deviate it towards the opposite side. When acting together, these muscles protrude the tongue directly forward and depress the center of the tongue at its back. The genioglossus plays a crucial role in enlarging and stabilising the upper portion of the respiratory tract, which is susceptible to involuntary collapse. This is why the muscle is so important in sleep apnea patients. Contraction of the genioglossus prevents the collapse of this section of the airway, while relaxation of the muscle during REM sleep can lead to obstructive sleep apnea.
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The genioglossal muscles are supplied blood by the external carotid artery
The genioglossus is a fan-shaped, extrinsic muscle of the tongue, contributing significantly to its shape. The name 'genioglossus' comes from the Greek words "geneion" meaning "chin" and "glossa" meaning "tongue". This muscle is involved in forming most of the tongue mass and emerges from the superior mental spines, inserting on the hyoid bone and the entire length of the tongue.
The genioglossus is innervated by the hypoglossal nerve, as are all muscles of the tongue except for the palatoglossus. The hypoglossal nerve is also referred to as cranial nerve XII, and it is responsible for the innervation of both the intrinsic and extrinsic muscles, including the genioglossus.
The genioglossal muscles receive blood supply from the sublingual branch of the lingual artery, which is a branch of the external carotid artery. The lingual artery is in the anterior portion of the hyoglossus, travelling between the mylohyoid and genioglossus muscles before reaching the sublingual gland. The external carotid arteries are located in the neck and supply blood to many structures in this region, including the face and neck.
The primary function of the genioglossus muscle is to protrude the tongue and deviate it to the opposite side. When the left and right genioglossus muscles work together, they depress the middle part of the tongue. The contraction of the genioglossus muscle is important for stabilising and enlarging the upper airway, which is vulnerable to collapse.
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The genioglossus muscle can influence the hyoid bone and the temporomandibular joint
The genioglossus muscle is a large, thick, fan-shaped muscle that forms most of the tongue mass. It is one of the four extrinsic muscles of the tongue, which are all in close proximity to one another and tend to function as a unit. The other extrinsic muscles of the tongue are the hyoglossus, styloglossus, and palatoglossus. The genioglossus muscle is innervated by the hypoglossal nerve, which is also referred to as cranial nerve XII.
The name "genioglossus" comes from the Greek words "γένειον" (geneion), meaning "chin," and "γλῶσσα" (glōssa), meaning "tongue." The muscle arises from the mandibular symphysis and inserts onto the body of the hyoid bone and the entire length of the tongue. The hyoid bone is a U-shaped bone that lies between the larynx and the mandible, and it has three parts: the body, the greater horn, and the lesser horn. The genioglossus muscle is connected to the inside surface of the mandible, where the chin is, and it inserts onto the body of the hyoid bone.
The genioglossus muscle can influence the hyoid bone, and its size can affect the function of the temporomandibular joint. The muscle is electrically involved in the generation of maximal sniff nasal inspiratory and nasal expiratory pressures. It also contributes to the ability to express phonemes and stick out one's tongue. The temporomandibular joint is part of the craniocervical-mandibular system, which also includes the masticatory muscles and ligaments connecting the joint to the cervical region. Disorders of the temporomandibular joint may affect this functional arrangement.
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The genioglossus muscle is electrically involved in the generation of maximal sniff nasal inspiratory and expiratory pressures
The genioglossus muscle is one of the four extrinsic muscles of the tongue. The name is derived from the Greek words "geneion" meaning "chin" and "glossa" meaning "tongue". It is a large, thick muscle that contributes to the shape of the tongue. The muscle arises from the mandibular symphysis and inserts onto the body of the hyoid bone and the entire length of the tongue. The genioglossus muscle is innervated by the hypoglossal nerve, and its blood supply comes from the lingual artery with contributions from the tonsillar artery.
The genioglossus muscle has a significant role in protruding and depressing the tongue. When the muscle relaxes, especially during REM sleep, it can lead to obstructive sleep apnea as the airway becomes more prone to constriction or obstruction. Conversely, contraction of the genioglossus muscle stabilizes and enlarges the upper airway, preventing airway collapse.
The degree to which the genioglossus muscle is activated during inspiratory and expiratory efforts through the nose has been a subject of interest in respiratory research. Maximal sniff nasal inspiratory pressure (SNIPmax) and reverse sniff nasal expiratory pressure (RSNEPmax) are commonly used to evaluate inspiratory and expiratory muscle strength, respectively.
Studies have found that genioglossus muscle activity is closely related to the generation of maximal sniff nasal inspiratory and expiratory pressures. In a study involving healthy male subjects, fine wire electrodes were inserted into the genioglossus muscle to measure its EMG activity during short and sharp inspiratory and expiratory efforts through the nose, known as sniff and reverse sniff maneuvers. The results indicated that genioglossus EMG activity increased linearly with increasing SNIPmax and RSNEPmax values.
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The genioglossus muscle plays a role in enlarging and stabilising the upper portion of the respiratory tract
The genioglossus is an extrinsic muscle of the tongue, arising from the mandibular symphysis and inserting onto the body of the hyoid bone and the entire length of the tongue. The name derives from the Greek words 'geneion' meaning "chin" and 'glossa' meaning "tongue". It is innervated by the hypoglossal nerve and supplied blood by the external carotid artery. The genioglossus muscle plays a critical role in preventing pharyngeal airway collapse during sleep, as well as in enlarging and stabilising the upper portion of the respiratory tract.
The genioglossus muscle is responsible for protrusion and depression of the tongue. When acting together, the left and right genioglossus muscles protrude the tongue directly forward and depress the centre of the tongue at its back. This contraction of the genioglossus stabilises and enlarges the portion of the upper airway that is most vulnerable to collapse. The genioglossus muscle is also believed to play a role in maintaining upper airway patency, with the horizontal compartment of the muscle pulling the base of the tongue forward and enlarging the glossopharyngeal airway.
The genioglossus muscle is controlled by multiple reflexes evoked by mechanoreceptors involved in the upper respiratory tract airway. Pleural receptors, when called upon during inhalation, send inhibitory afferents to the XII nucleus to make the genioglossus muscle more able to retract and better dilate the upper airway. The ability to lower the tongue correctly is important for optimal use of the vocal cords, such as when playing a wind instrument.
The genioglossus muscle also aids in swallowing by creating a passage to the gastrointestinal tract. Additionally, the muscle contributes significantly to the shape of the tongue, and its length can impact an individual's ability to elevate or protrude the tongue, affecting their speech. For example, an underdeveloped or shortened genioglossus muscle can result in speech problems, such as a lisp, making it difficult to pronounce certain words containing the letter "s".
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Frequently asked questions
The genioglossus is an extrinsic muscle of the tongue. It is a large, thick muscle that contributes significantly to the tongue's movement and shape.
The genioglossus muscle influences the hyoid bone and plays a role in enlarging and stabilising the upper portion of the respiratory tract. It also helps prevent the collapse of the upper airway, which is vulnerable to involuntary collapse.
During REM sleep, the genioglossus muscle tends to relax, which can lead to obstructive sleep apnea as the airway becomes more prone to constriction or obstruction.
