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The tongue is a muscular organ that is made up of eight muscles, which are divided into two groups: the intrinsic muscles and the extrinsic muscles. The intrinsic muscles are responsible for altering the shape of the tongue, while the extrinsic muscles change the position of the tongue. The vertical muscle, one of the intrinsic muscles, is responsible for flattening the tongue.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of the muscle that flattens the tongue | Vertical muscle |
| Other names | Vertical lingual muscle |
| Location | Middle of the tongue |
| Function | Flattens the tongue |
| Innervation | Hypoglossal nerve (CN XII) |
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What You'll Learn
The vertical muscle is responsible for flattening the tongue
The tongue is a muscular organ that is made up of eight muscles. These muscles are classified as either intrinsic or extrinsic. The four intrinsic muscles are responsible for altering the shape of the tongue and are not attached to any bone. The four extrinsic muscles, on the other hand, are responsible for changing the position of the tongue and are anchored to bone.
The vertical muscle is one of the four intrinsic muscles of the tongue. It is located in the middle of the tongue and joins the superior and inferior longitudinal muscles. The superior longitudinal muscle runs along the upper surface of the tongue under the mucous membrane and functions to shorten and curl the tongue upward. The inferior longitudinal muscle lines the sides of the tongue and functions to shorten and curl the tongue downward.
The vertical muscle, as its name suggests, functions to flatten the tongue. This is achieved by broadening and narrowing the surface of the tongue. This movement is essential for mastication (chewing), speech, and deglutition (swallowing). For example, flattening the tongue against the roof of the mouth helps to create a seal when swallowing.
The other intrinsic muscles of the tongue include the superior longitudinal, inferior longitudinal, and transverse muscles. These muscles work together with the vertical muscle to produce movements that are essential for various functions of the tongue. The vertical muscle, in particular, plays a crucial role in flattening the tongue to facilitate these functions.
The tongue is a complex muscular organ that is essential for various functions, including taste, speech, and swallowing. The vertical muscle, as one of the intrinsic muscles, contributes to the tongue's flexibility and movement, making it an important component of the tongue's overall structure and function.
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The tongue is made up of 8 muscles
The tongue is a muscular organ, and its main functions include tasting, chewing, swallowing, speaking, and clearing the oral cavity. It is made up of eight muscles, which are classified as either intrinsic or extrinsic.
The four intrinsic muscles are not attached to any bone and are responsible for altering the shape of the tongue. They are the superior longitudinal, inferior longitudinal, transverse, and vertical muscles. The superior longitudinal muscle runs along the upper surface of the tongue under the mucous membrane and functions to shorten and curl the tongue upward. The inferior longitudinal muscle lines the sides of the tongue and is joined to the styloglossus muscle. It functions to shorten and curl the tongue downward. The transverse muscle divides the tongue in the middle and is attached to the mucous membranes that run along the sides. It elongates and narrows the tongue. The vertical muscle is located in the middle of the tongue and joins the superior and inferior longitudinal muscles. It functions to flatten the tongue.
The four extrinsic muscles are anchored to bone and are responsible for altering the tongue's position. They are the genioglossus, hyoglossus, styloglossus, and palatoglossus muscles. The genioglossus muscle protrudes the tongue, allowing it to stick out. The hyoglossus muscle arises from the hyoid bone and retracts and depresses the tongue. The styloglossus muscle draws up the sides of the tongue to create a trough for swallowing. The palatoglossus muscle elevates the posterior tongue, closes the oropharyngeal isthmus, aids in the initiation of swallowing, and prevents the spill of saliva from the vestibule into the oropharynx by maintaining the palatoglossal arch.
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Intrinsic and extrinsic muscles make up the tongue
The tongue is a muscular organ composed of eight muscles, four intrinsic and four extrinsic. The intrinsic muscles are responsible for altering the shape of the tongue, while the extrinsic muscles are responsible for moving it in different directions.
The four intrinsic muscles are the superior longitudinal, inferior longitudinal, transverse, and vertical muscles. These muscles originate and attach to other structures within the tongue. They are named based on the direction they travel and affect the tongue's shape and size. For example, the superior longitudinal muscle shortens and curls the tongue upward, while the inferior longitudinal muscle shortens and curls it downward. The transverse muscle divides the tongue in the middle and narrows it, while the vertical muscle is located in the middle and flattens the tongue.
The four extrinsic muscles are the genioglossus, hyoglossus, styloglossus, and palatoglossus. They originate from structures outside the tongue and insert onto it. These muscles are anchored to bone and are responsible for altering the tongue's position, allowing for protrusion, retraction, and side-to-side movement. The genioglossus muscle protrudes the tongue, while the hyoglossus muscle retracts and depresses it. The styloglossus muscle elevates the tongue's lateral margins, and the palatoglossus muscle elevates the posterior portion of the tongue and aids in swallowing.
The tongue plays a crucial role in various functions, including digestion, taste perception, speech, and breathing. The intrinsic and extrinsic muscles work together to change the tongue's shape and position, facilitating these essential functions.
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The tongue's shape is altered by its intrinsic muscles
The tongue is a muscular organ made up of eight muscles, which are divided into two groups: the intrinsic muscles and the extrinsic muscles. The intrinsic muscles are four paired muscles that originate and attach to other structures within the tongue. They are named based on the direction they travel: the superior longitudinal, inferior longitudinal, transverse, and vertical muscles.
The intrinsic muscles of the tongue are primarily responsible for altering its shape. They work together to produce movements essential for chewing, speaking, and swallowing. These muscles affect the tongue's shape and size, enabling it to lengthen, shorten, curl, flatten, narrow, and round its surface. For example, the superior longitudinal muscle shortens and curls the tongue upward, while the inferior longitudinal muscle shortens and curls it downward. The transverse muscle elongates and narrows the tongue, while the vertical muscle flattens it.
The extrinsic muscles, on the other hand, are responsible for changing the position of the tongue. They originate from structures outside the tongue and insert onto it. These muscles include the genioglossus, which protrudes the tongue; the hyoglossus, which retracts and depresses it; the styloglossus, which draws up the sides of the tongue for swallowing; and the palatoglossus, which elevates the posterior tongue and aids in swallowing.
The tongue's flexibility and shape-shifting abilities are essential for its various functions, including taste, speech, and swallowing. The intricate coordination of its intrinsic and extrinsic muscles allows the tongue to perform complex movements, demonstrating the remarkable adaptability of the human body.
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The tongue's position is altered by its extrinsic muscles
The human tongue is a muscular organ composed of two main groups of muscles: the intrinsic and extrinsic muscles. The intrinsic muscles are responsible for altering the shape of the tongue, while the extrinsic muscles change the position of the tongue.
The tongue's position is altered by its four extrinsic muscles: the genioglossus, hyoglossus, styloglossus, and palatoglossus. These muscles work together to allow for protrusion, retraction, and side-to-side movement of the tongue.
The genioglossus muscle is a large, thick muscle that contributes significantly to the shape of the tongue. It arises from the mandible and protrudes the tongue, also known as sticking the tongue out. This muscle is innervated by the hypoglossal nerve.
The hyoglossus muscle, on the other hand, arises from the hyoid bone and is responsible for retracting and depressing the tongue. It is located in the floor of the oral cavity, immediately lateral to the geniohyoid. The hyoglossus muscle is also innervated by the hypoglossal nerve.
The styloglossus muscle is a thin, paired muscle located on either side of the oropharynx. It works by retracting and elevating the tongue, drawing up the sides to create a trough for swallowing.
The palatoglossus muscle is associated with the soft palate and is innervated by the vagus nerve. It elevates the posterior portion of the tongue, closes the oropharyngeal isthmus, and aids in the initiation of swallowing. The palatoglossus muscle also helps prevent the spill of saliva from the vestibule into the oropharynx by maintaining the palatoglossal arch.
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Frequently asked questions
The vertical muscle, also known as the vertical lingual muscle, flattens the tongue.
The tongue is composed of 8 muscles, divided into two groups: the intrinsic and extrinsic muscles. The intrinsic muscles are the superior longitudinal, inferior longitudinal, transverse, and vertical muscles. The extrinsic muscles are the genioglossus, hyoglossus, styloglossus, and palatoglossus muscles.
The intrinsic muscles change the shape of the tongue, which is essential for speaking, while the extrinsic muscles move the tongue in different directions.
