Dominic Stone
The human tongue is a muscular marvel, with eight muscles that work together seamlessly to provide the strength and precision needed for a wide range of movements. These include the ability to roll, curl, and touch different parts of the mouth with precision. The tongue is also essential for savouring the flavours of food, articulating words with clarity, and communicating our thoughts and feelings to others. The muscles of the tongue can be divided in a couple of ways, either by where they attach (internally to the tongue or to external structures) or by the direction that the muscle fibres run. The four intrinsic muscles of the tongue alter its shape and are not attached to bone, while the four extrinsic muscles change its position and are anchored to bone. The superior longitudinal muscle, for example, curls the tongue upward, while the inferior longitudinal muscle curls it downward. The genioglossus muscle protrudes the tongue and is also known as the tongue's safety muscle as it is the only muscle that propels the tongue forward.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of muscles | 8 |
| Muscle groups | 2 (intrinsic and extrinsic) |
| Function of intrinsic muscles | Alter the shape of the tongue |
| Function of extrinsic muscles | Change the position of the tongue |
| Muscles that change the position of the tongue | Genioglossus, hyoglossus, styloglossus, and palatoglossus |
| Muscles that enable tongue rolling | Superior longitudinal muscle, inferior longitudinal muscle, vertical muscle, and transverse muscle |
| Innervation | Hypoglossal nerve (CN XII) |
| Arterial supply | Lingual artery |
| Venous drainage | Lingual vein |
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What You'll Learn
The superior longitudinal muscle shortens and curls the tongue upward
The tongue is an extremely agile and flexible muscle that is essential for speaking, swallowing, and eating. It can produce more than 90 words per minute, using more than 20 different movements. The tongue is also a sensory organ responsible for tasting and touch.
The superior longitudinal muscle is one of the four intrinsic muscles of the tongue that alter the shape of the tongue. It runs along the upper surface of the tongue under the mucous membrane and functions to shorten and curl the tongue upward. The other three intrinsic muscles are the inferior longitudinal muscle, the vertical muscle, and the transverse muscle.
The superior longitudinal muscle originates near the epiglottis, at the hyoid bone, from the median fibrous septum. The intrinsic muscles of the tongue are not attached to bone. Instead, they originate and insert within the tongue, running along its length.
The superior longitudinal muscle works in conjunction with the other intrinsic and extrinsic muscles of the tongue to provide the strength and precision needed for various tasks, such as savouring the flavours of food and articulating words clearly. The ability to roll the tongue is influenced by genetic factors, with studies on twins suggesting that tongue-rolling ability may be influenced by dominant or recessive genes.
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The inferior longitudinal muscle curls the tongue downward
The human tongue is a muscular organ with a complex arrangement of intrinsic and extrinsic muscles. The intrinsic muscles are responsible for altering the shape of the tongue, while the extrinsic muscles change the tongue's position. The four intrinsic muscles are not attached to any bone, while the four extrinsic muscles are anchored to bone.
The inferior longitudinal muscle is one of the intrinsic muscles of the tongue. It lines the sides of the tongue and is joined to the styloglossus muscle. By shortening and widening the tongue, the inferior longitudinal muscle curls the tongue downward, an action known as ventroflexion. The deep lingual artery, which is a branch of the lingual artery, passes between the genioglossus muscle and the inferior longitudinal muscle, supplying the apex of the tongue.
The superior longitudinal muscle, another intrinsic muscle, performs the opposite function of the inferior longitudinal muscle. It runs along the upper surface of the tongue under the mucous membrane and functions to shorten and curl the tongue upward. The vertical muscle, located in the middle of the tongue, joins the superior and inferior longitudinal muscles and acts to flatten the tongue.
The four extrinsic muscles of the tongue are the genioglossus, the hyoglossus, the styloglossus, and the palatoglossus. These muscles are responsible for protrusion, retraction, and side-to-side movement of the tongue. The genioglossus, also known as the tongue's "safety muscle", is the only muscle that propels the tongue forward. The hyoglossus muscle, located in the floor of the oral cavity, depresses and retracts the tongue. The styloglossus muscle, a thin, paired muscle, elevates and retracts the tongue. The palatoglossus muscle is associated with the soft palate and is innervated by the vagus nerve. It elevates the posterior tongue, aiding in swallowing and preventing the spill of saliva.
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The vertical muscle flattens the tongue
The human tongue is a muscular organ with a complex arrangement of intrinsic and extrinsic muscles. The intrinsic muscles are responsible for altering the shape of the tongue, while the extrinsic muscles are in charge of moving it in different directions.
The vertical muscle is one of the four intrinsic muscles of the tongue, which also include the superior and inferior longitudinal muscles, and the transverse muscle. The vertical muscle is located in the middle of the tongue and joins the superior and inferior longitudinal muscles.
The vertical muscle of the tongue is unique in that it is found only at the borders of the forepart of the tongue. Its fibres are arranged in a vertical direction, intersecting the transversely oriented fibres of the transverse muscle. These fibres extend from the upper to the under surface of the tongue.
The vertical muscle plays a crucial role in flattening, widening, and elongating the tongue. This function is essential for various processes, including speech, swallowing, and eating. By flattening the tongue, the vertical muscle helps to facilitate these activities and contributes to the overall shape and movement of the tongue.
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The transverse muscle divides the tongue in the middle
The tongue is a highly flexible and movable group of muscles that is well-supplied with blood and has many nerves. It is essential for speaking, swallowing, and tasting. The tongue moves in all directions and can be lengthened, shortened, curled, flattened, rounded, protruded, depressed, retracted, and moved side-to-side.
The tongue can be divided into two parts: the oral part at the front and the pharyngeal part at the back. It can also be divided into four sections: the tip, the sides, the dorsum, and the root. The tip and sides are part of the movable section of the tongue and can perform complex movements. The dorsum, or upper surface of the tongue, contains many sensory cells for taste and touch. The root of the tongue is connected to the floor of the mouth and cannot move freely.
The muscles of the tongue can be divided by where they attach (internally to the tongue or to external structures) or by the direction that the muscle fibres run. There are four intrinsic muscles that alter the shape of the tongue and are not attached to bone. There are also four extrinsic muscles that change the position of the tongue and are anchored to bone.
The transverse muscle is one of the four paired intrinsic muscles of the tongue, along with the superior longitudinal muscle, the inferior longitudinal muscle, and the vertical muscle. The transverse muscle divides the tongue in the middle and is attached to the mucous membranes that run along the sides. It works together with the other intrinsic and extrinsic muscles to provide the strength and precision needed for activities such as tasting, speaking, and eating.
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The genioglossus muscle protrudes the tongue
The genioglossus muscle is one of the four extrinsic muscles of the tongue, along with the hyoglossus, styloglossus, and palatoglossus. It is a thick, fan-shaped muscle that constitutes the bulk of the tongue. The genioglossus arises from the mandible and is responsible for protruding the tongue, earning it the nickname the "safety muscle". It is the only muscle that propels the tongue forward.
The genioglossus muscle has a broad insertion, with its inferior fibres inserting into the body of the hyoid bone and superior fibres inserting along the entire length of the dorsum of the tongue. The left and right genioglossus muscles work together to protrude the tongue anteriorly out of the mouth and deviate it towards the opposite side. When they contract bilaterally, the genioglossus depresses and protrudes the tongue, while unilateral contraction deviates the tongue to the contralateral side.
The genioglossus muscle plays a crucial role in stabilising and enlarging the upper airway, particularly the portion most vulnerable to collapse. Its contraction pulls the posterior portion of the tongue forward and away from the posterior airway wall, making it an important dilator of the upper airway. This function is especially relevant in preventing obstructive sleep apnea, as relaxation of the genioglossus and geniohyoid muscles during REM sleep can lead to airway obstruction.
The genioglossus muscle is innervated by the hypoglossal nerve (CN XII), which is consistent across all muscles of the tongue except for the palatoglossus. The hypoglossal nerve is essential for tongue protrusion, and its peripheral damage can result in tongue deviation to the affected side. The genioglossus receives its blood supply from the sublingual branch of the lingual artery, a branch of the external carotid artery, and the facial artery.
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Frequently asked questions
The four intrinsic muscles of the tongue are responsible for altering the shape of the tongue and are not attached to any bone. These muscles include the superior longitudinal muscle, the inferior longitudinal muscle, the vertical muscle, and the transverse muscle. The superior longitudinal muscle shortens and curls the tongue upward, while the inferior longitudinal muscle shortens and curls the tongue downward. The vertical muscle flattens the tongue, and the transverse muscle divides the tongue in the middle.
The superior longitudinal muscle, the inferior longitudinal muscle, the vertical muscle, and the transverse muscle are all involved in the complex movements required for speaking, swallowing, and eating. The superior longitudinal muscle and the inferior longitudinal muscle are also involved in sticking the tongue out.
Yes, the ability to roll one's tongue has been found to be influenced by genetics. Several twin studies have been conducted on this topic, and while the results are not entirely consistent, they suggest that hereditary factors play a strong role in tongue-rolling ability.
