Logan Steele
The tongue is a muscular organ that plays a crucial role in various functions, including speech, mastication (chewing), and deglutition (swallowing). The tongue's movement and flexibility are made possible by several muscles, including both intrinsic and extrinsic muscles. While the intrinsic muscles originate and attach within the tongue, the extrinsic muscles originate from structures outside the tongue and insert into it. The extrinsic muscles are responsible for the tongue's retraction and protrusion movements. The hyoglossus, styloglossus, and genioglossus muscles are the primary muscles involved in tongue retraction.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Muscles that retract the tongue | Hyoglossus, Styloglossus, and Hypoglossus |
| Number of intrinsic muscles | 4 |
| Function of intrinsic muscles | Alter the shape of the tongue |
| Number of extrinsic muscles | 4 |
| Function of extrinsic muscles | Change the position of the tongue |
| Origin of extrinsic muscles | Bone |
| Muscles that protrude the tongue | Genioglossus |
| Main artery supplying blood to the tongue | Lingual artery |
| Vein that drains the tongue | Lingual vein |
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What You'll Learn
The hyoglossus muscle
The hyoglossus is a thin, quadrilateral extrinsic muscle of the tongue. It is one of four pairs of extrinsic muscles, along with the genioglossus, styloglossus, and palatoglossus. The hyoglossus originates from the hyoid bone and inserts onto the lateral aspect of the tongue. It is innervated by the hypoglossal nerve (CN XII), which has an estimated 8000–9000 motor neurons. The hypoglossal nerve innervates three of the four extrinsic muscles (genioglossus, styloglossus, and hyoglossus) and all four intrinsic muscles.
The function of the hyoglossus muscle is to depress and retract the tongue. It also makes the dorsum more convex. The tongue's muscles, including the hyoglossus, are involved in changing the shape of the tongue, which is essential for speaking, chewing, and swallowing. The intrinsic muscles, which alter the shape of the tongue, are innervated by the hypoglossal nerve. The hypoglossal nerve provides motor innervation to all of the intrinsic and extrinsic muscles of the tongue, except for the palatoglossus muscle, which is innervated by the vagus nerve.
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The styloglossus muscle
The arterial supply to the tongue is mainly from the lingual artery, a branch of the external carotid artery. The venous drainage is done by the lingual vein, which empties into the internal jugular vein. The tongue's embryological development simplifies the complex innervation to its structure. The first branchial arch is supplied by the trigeminal nerve, the second by the facial nerve, the third by the glossopharyngeal, and the fourth and sixth by the vagus nerve.
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The genioglossus muscle
The genioglossus is a paired extrinsic tongue muscle that contributes to the movement of the tongue. It is the largest intrinsic tongue muscle and originates from the medial surface of the mandible, with its muscle fibres radiating towards the tip, root and dorsum of the tongue. The genioglossus muscle is innervated by the hypoglossal nerve, as are all muscles of the tongue except for the palatoglossus. The hypoglossal nerve supplies motor innervation to all of the extrinsic muscles of the tongue, except for the palatoglossus, which is supplied by the vagus nerve.
Furthermore, the genioglossus muscle contributes to the ability to express phonemes and produce speech. It also plays a role in the generation of maximal sniff nasal inspiratory and expiratory pressures. The muscle size can influence the function of the temporomandibular joint and the hyoid bone.
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The palatoglossus muscle
The function of the palatoglossus muscle is to elevate the root of the tongue, or the posterior attached portion of the tongue. It also closes the oropharyngeal isthmus and aids in the initiation of swallowing. This muscle prevents the spill of saliva from the vestibule into the oropharynx by maintaining the palatoglossal arch. The palatoglossal arches are ridges of mucous membrane in the lateral pharyngeal wall, also known as the anterior pillars of the fauces. They form the boundary between the oral cavity and the oropharynx.
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The intrinsic muscles of the tongue
- Superior longitudinal
- Inferior longitudinal
- Transverse
- Vertical
These muscles get their names from the direction in which they travel. For example, the transverse muscle has its fibres on the transverse plane. The intrinsic muscles of the tongue work together with the extrinsic muscles to produce movements essential for chewing, speech, and swallowing. The intrinsic muscles change the tongue's shape, while the extrinsic muscles move it in different directions.
The intrinsic muscles are involved primarily in changing the shape of the tongue, which is essential for speaking. They also enable the formation of the food bolus in the oral preparatory phase of swallowing. They help move food around the mouth with the help of the buccinator muscle, mix it with saliva, and separate undesired particles.
The motor innervation to the intrinsic muscles of the tongue is via the hypoglossal nerve (CN XII). However, the palatoglossus muscle, one of the extrinsic muscles, is innervated by the vagus nerve (CN X).
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Frequently asked questions
The tongue retractor muscles are the styloglossus and hyoglossus.
The styloglossus muscle is a thin, stripe-shaped muscle that originates from the styloid process of the temporal bone. It inserts into the tongue by passing through the oropharyngeal triangle.
The styloglossus muscle is responsible for retruding/retracting and elevating the tongue.
The hyoglossus muscle is a quadrangular muscle that originates from the hyoid bone and inserts into the inferior/ventral parts of the lateral tongue.
The hyoglossus muscle is responsible for depressing and retracting the tongue.
