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The tongue is a muscular organ that sits in the oral cavity and plays a crucial role in various functions, including mastication, speech, and deglutition (swallowing). The movement of the tongue is facilitated by several muscles, including extrinsic muscles such as genioglossus, hyoglossus, styloglossus, and palatoglossus. These muscles enable the tongue to protrude, retract, depress, and elevate. Specifically, the palatoglossus muscle elevates the posterior tongue, while the styloglossus muscle elevates the tongue's lateral margins. These muscles, with the exception of the palatoglossus muscle, are innervated by the hypoglossal nerve (CN XII). The complex interplay of these muscles allows the tongue to perform essential tasks, showcasing the intricate design of our oral anatomy.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Muscle that elevates the posterior tongue | Palatoglossus |
| Styloglossus | |
| Hyoglossus | |
| Muscle that elevates the apex of the tongue | Genioglossus |
| Innervation of the palatoglossus muscle | Vagus nerve (CN X) |
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What You'll Learn
The styloglossus muscle elevates the tongue's lateral margin
The styloglossus muscle is a bilaterally paired extrinsic muscle of the tongue. It is the shortest and smallest of the three styloid muscles. The styloglossus muscle originates from the anterolateral aspect of the styloid process of the temporal bone and the nearby stylomandibular ligament.
The muscle fibres pass through the oropharyngeal triangle to reach the tongue and insert into its posterolateral aspects. The longitudinal part of the styloglossus blends with the fibres of the inferior longitudinal muscle, while the oblique part blends with the fibres of the hyoglossus muscle.
The styloglossus muscle is responsible for retruding the tongue and elevating its lateral margins. When the styloglossus muscle contracts, it draws the tongue upward and backward, resulting in retrusion. This action also elevates the tongue's lateral margins, creating a trough that facilitates the process of swallowing.
The styloglossus muscle is innervated by the hypoglossal nerve (cranial nerve XII), which carries motor fibres to the muscle. The contraction of the styloglossus muscle results in the upward and backward movement of the tongue, contributing to its retrusion and elevation.
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The hyoglossus muscle depresses the tongue's lateral margin
The tongue is a muscular organ that is formed by a complex arrangement of intrinsic and extrinsic muscles. The intrinsic muscles are responsible for changing the shape of the tongue, while the extrinsic muscles are in charge of moving it in different directions. The four pairs of extrinsic muscles are the genioglossus, hyoglossus, styloglossus, and palatoglossus.
The hyoglossus is a thin and quadrilateral extrinsic muscle of the tongue. It originates from the hyoid bone and inserts onto the side of the tongue. It is innervated by the hypoglossal nerve (cranial nerve XII). The hypoglossal nerve is a somatic efferent (motor) nerve that innervates the tongue musculature. It starts from the hypoglossal nuclei pair in the lower medulla and travels laterally and ventrally. The nerve splits into two before exiting the medulla and passing through the hypoglossal canal in the skull's occipital bone.
The hyoglossus muscle retrudes the tongue and depresses its lateral margins. It also acts to retract and depress the tongue, making the dorsum more convex. The fibres of the hyoglossus pass almost vertically upward to enter the side of the tongue, inserting between the styloglossus and the inferior longitudinal muscle of the tongue. Structures that are medial/deep to the hyoglossus include the glossopharyngeal nerve (CN IX), the stylohyoid ligament, and the lingual artery and lingual vein. The lingual vein passes medial to the hyoglossus, while the lingual artery passes deep to it.
The hyoglossus muscle works alongside the other extrinsic muscles of the tongue to produce movements essential for mastication (chewing), speech, and deglutition (swallowing). These movements include elongating and retracting the tongue, elevating and lowering the apex of the tongue, and broadening and narrowing the surface of the tongue.
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The palatoglossus muscle elevates the posterior tongue
The tongue is a muscular structure that plays a crucial role in various functions, including mastication (chewing), speech, and deglutition (swallowing). The palatoglossus muscle, also known as musculus palatoglossus, is one of the four extrinsic muscles of the tongue. It originates from the anterior region of the soft palate and inserts into the tongue's lateral borders, forming the palatopharyngeal arch.
The palatoglossus muscle is responsible for elevating the posterior tongue. This elevation is crucial for closing the oropharyngeal isthmus, initiating the swallowing process, and preventing the spillage of saliva from the vestibule into the oropharynx. By maintaining the palatoglossal arch, the palatoglossus muscle ensures that saliva does not enter the oropharynx. This function is particularly important during the oral phase of swallowing, when the tongue elevates and sweeps posteriorly to propel the food bolus past the anterior tonsillar pillar, triggering the swallowing reflex.
The palatoglossus muscle also plays a role in tongue positioning and rigidity. It works in conjunction with other muscles, such as the levator veli palatini muscle, to provide velar positioning. Additionally, electrical stimulation of the nerve to the palatoglossus muscle has been found to aid in reducing the burden of obstructive sleep apnoea. This stimulation results in the forward movement of the tongue base, which may lead to the advancement of the palate.
The palatoglossus muscle is unique among the tongue muscles as it is innervated by the vagus nerve (CN X) via branches of the pharyngeal plexus. This is in contrast to the other tongue muscles, which are primarily innervated by the hypoglossal nerve (CN XII). The palatoglossus muscle's distinct innervation highlights its specialized role in tongue function and coordination with the soft palate.
In summary, the palatoglossus muscle is essential for elevating the posterior tongue, facilitating swallowing, and maintaining the palatoglossal arch to prevent saliva spillage. Its innervation by the vagus nerve underscores its unique role in tongue function and coordination with the soft palate. Understanding the anatomy and functions of the palatoglossus muscle provides valuable insights into the complex movements and processes involving the tongue.
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The genioglossus muscle protrudes the tongue
The genioglossus muscle is one of four extrinsic muscles of the tongue, along with the hyoglossus, styloglossus, and palatoglossus muscles. It is a thick, fan-shaped muscle that constitutes the bulk of the tongue. The genioglossus muscle originates from the superior mental spine of the mandible and inserts into the body of the hyoid bone and the dorsum of the tongue.
The primary function of the genioglossus muscle is to protrude the tongue. When contracted, the genioglossus muscle protracts the tongue and pulls the basihyoid bone forward. Bilateral contraction of the genioglossus muscle depresses and protrudes the tongue, while unilateral contraction deviates the tongue to the opposite side. This muscle also acts with the hyoglossus muscle to depress and retract the tongue, and its activity is synchronous with respiration.
The genioglossus muscle is innervated by the hypoglossal nerve (CN XII), as are most other muscles of the tongue. The hypoglossal nerve controls the movement of the tongue, and its peripheral damage can result in deviation of the tongue to the damaged side. The genioglossus muscle is often used as a proxy to test the function of the hypoglossal nerve by asking a patient to stick out their tongue.
The genioglossus muscle has important clinical implications, particularly in obstructive sleep apnea. Relaxation of the genioglossus and related muscles during REM sleep can contribute to airway obstruction. By pulling the mandible forward, the airway space can be maximized, preventing the tongue from obstructing the airway during anesthesia. Additionally, the genioglossus is the largest airway dilator muscle, and its activity has been found to be elevated in patients with OSA compared to healthy controls.
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The superior longitudinal muscle curls the tongue upward
The tongue is a muscular organ that sits in the oral cavity and plays a crucial role in various functions, including mastication (chewing), speech, and deglutition (swallowing). The movement and shape-changing abilities of the tongue are made possible by the intricate coordination of its intrinsic and extrinsic muscles.
The superior longitudinal muscle is one of the four paired intrinsic muscles of the tongue, along with the inferior longitudinal, transverse, and vertical muscles. These intrinsic muscles originate and attach to other structures within the tongue itself. The superior longitudinal muscle is responsible for curling the tongue upward, a movement known as dorsiflexion. This muscle shortens and widens the tongue, allowing for specific articulatory movements that are essential for speech and eating.
While the intrinsic muscles affect the shape and size of the tongue, the extrinsic muscles produce movements that the intrinsic muscles cannot. There are four pairs of extrinsic muscles: genioglossus, hyoglossus, styloglossus, and palatoglossus. These muscles are responsible for protrusion, retraction, depression, and elevation of the tongue.
The styloglossus muscle, for example, retracts the tongue and elevates its lateral margins. The palatoglossus muscle, on the other hand, elevates the posterior tongue, aiding in swallowing and preventing the spill of saliva into the oropharynx.
The complex coordination of these intrinsic and extrinsic muscles allows the tongue to perform a wide range of functions, showcasing the intricate design of our oral anatomy.
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Frequently asked questions
The styloglossus, palatoglossus, and hyoglossus muscles all play a role in elevating the tongue.
The styloglossus muscle is the shortest and smallest of the three styloid muscles. It retracts the tongue and elevates the tongue's lateral margins.
The palatoglossus muscle elevates the posterior tongue, closes the oropharyngeal isthmus, and aids in the initiation of swallowing. It is the only extrinsic muscle of the tongue that is not innervated by the hypoglossal nerve but by the vagus nerve.
