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The tongue is a muscular organ situated in the oral cavity, with a complex arrangement of intrinsic and extrinsic muscles. The intrinsic muscles are responsible for changing the shape of the tongue, while the extrinsic muscles control its position and movement. One of the intrinsic muscles, the transverse muscle, is responsible for elongating and narrowing the tongue. This muscle works in conjunction with others to facilitate essential functions such as speech, chewing, and swallowing.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Muscle Name | Transverse Muscle |
| Muscle Group | Intrinsic |
| Direction | Superior Longitudinal, Inferior Longitudinal, Transverse and Vertical |
| Function | Elongates and narrows the tongue |
| Innervation | Hypoglossal nerve (CN XII) |
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What You'll Learn
The transverse muscle elongates and narrows the tongue
The tongue is a muscular organ situated in the oral cavity, with a complex arrangement of intrinsic and extrinsic muscles. The intrinsic muscles are those that originate and attach to other structures within the tongue, while the extrinsic muscles originate from structures outside the tongue and insert into it.
The intrinsic muscles are primarily responsible for changing the shape of the tongue, such as elongating and narrowing it. One of these muscles is the transverse muscle, which elongates and narrows the tongue. The transverse muscle is one of four paired intrinsic muscles, the others being the superior longitudinal, inferior longitudinal, and vertical muscles. These muscles affect the tongue's shape and size, facilitating essential functions like speech, eating, and swallowing. For example, the vertical muscle flattens the tongue, while the inferior longitudinal muscle shortens and widens the tongue, curling it downward.
The extrinsic muscles, on the other hand, are in charge of moving the tongue in different directions. They produce movements that the intrinsic muscles cannot, such as protrusion, retraction, depression, and elevation. The four pairs of extrinsic muscles include the genioglossus, hyoglossus, styloglossus, and palatoglossus muscles. The genioglossus muscle, for instance, protrudes the tongue, while the styloglossus muscle retrudes the tongue and elevates its lateral margins.
The tongue plays a crucial role in various functions, including taste, speech, and swallowing. Speech is produced partly by manipulating the tongue against the teeth and palate, and the tongue also helps move food around the mouth, mix it with saliva, and initiate the swallowing process. The complex arrangement of intrinsic and extrinsic muscles allows the tongue to perform these diverse functions.
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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 muscle arises from the mandibular symphysis and inserts onto the body of the hyoid bone and the entire length of the tongue.
The primary function of the genioglossus muscle is to protrude the tongue, also known as sticking the tongue out. This muscle is responsible for the protrusion or protraction of the tongue, pulling it forward and away from the posterior airway wall. When the genioglossus muscle contracts, it protrudes the tongue anteriorly out of the mouth and deviates it towards the opposite side. Bilateral contraction of the genioglossus depresses and protrudes the tongue, while unilateral contraction deviates the tongue to the opposite side.
The genioglossus muscle plays a crucial role in maintaining upper airway stability. Its contraction stabilizes and enlarges the portion of the upper airway, preventing its collapse. This is particularly important in preventing obstructive sleep apnea. By relaxing the genioglossus and geniohyoid muscles during REM sleep, the airway can remain unobstructed, ensuring adequate airflow.
The genioglossus muscle is innervated by the hypoglossal nerve (CN XII), which is responsible for controlling the movement of the tongue. Testing the function of this nerve can be done by asking a patient to stick out their tongue. If the tongue protrudes directly forward without deviating to either side, it indicates that the hypoglossal nerves are likely intact and not injured.
In summary, the genioglossus muscle is a key extrinsic muscle of the tongue that enables protrusion and movement of the tongue. Its contraction is essential for sticking out the tongue and maintaining upper airway stability, particularly during sleep. The muscle is innervated by the hypoglossal nerve, which plays a vital role in tongue movement and function.
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The styloglossus muscle elevates the tongue
The tongue is a muscular organ that enables us to chew, swallow, and speak. It is made up of both intrinsic and extrinsic muscles. The intrinsic muscles are responsible for altering the shape of the tongue, while the extrinsic muscles move the tongue in different directions.
The styloglossus muscle is one of the extrinsic muscles of the tongue. It is a thin, paired muscle, located on either side of the oropharynx. The styloglossus muscle originates at the styloid process of the temporal bone and inserts onto the lateral aspect of the tongue.
The styloglossus muscle is responsible for retruding and elevating the tongue. By contracting, the styloglossus muscle retracts the tongue and elevates its lateral aspects. This muscle works alongside the other extrinsic muscles of the tongue, including the genioglossus, hyoglossus, and palatoglossus muscles, to produce movements that the intrinsic muscles cannot.
The styloglossus muscle is innervated by the hypoglossal nerve (CN XII), which is responsible for innervating all the muscles that control tongue movement. The hypoglossal nerve carries motor fibres to the intrinsic tongue muscles and to other muscles including the thyrohyoid, hyoglossus, genioglossus, and geniohyoid muscles.
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The hyoglossus muscle depresses the tongue
The tongue is a muscular organ that enables us to chew, swallow, speak, and taste. It is made up of both extrinsic and intrinsic muscles. The intrinsic muscles are responsible for changing the shape of the tongue, while the extrinsic muscles move it in different directions.
The hyoglossus is an extrinsic muscle that plays a crucial role in depressing and retracting the tongue. It originates from the hyoid bone and inserts onto the lateral aspect of the tongue. The hyoglossus muscle is located in the floor of the oral cavity, immediately lateral to the geniohyoid. Its fibres pass almost vertically upward to enter the side of the tongue, inserting between the styloglossus and the inferior longitudinal muscle of the tongue.
The hyoglossus muscle is innervated by the hypoglossal nerve (CN XII), which is a branch of the external carotid artery. The lingual artery, which supplies blood to the tongue, passes between the hyoglossus and genioglossus muscles. The hypoglossal nerve and the lingual nerve also pass over the external surface of the hyoglossus on their way to the tongue. This makes the hyoglossus muscle an important clinical landmark.
The hyoglossus muscle works in conjunction with the genioglossus muscle to depress and retract the tongue. Their synchronous activity is closely linked to respiration, with increases in pharyngeal airway size during breathing. This correlation suggests that tongue depression may play a critical role in dilating and stabilising the nasopharynx, particularly in certain species such as horses.
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The palatoglossus muscle elevates the posterior tongue
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 move it in different directions.
The palatoglossus muscle is one of the four extrinsic muscles of the tongue. It is innervated by the vagus nerve, unlike other tongue muscles that are innervated by the hypoglossal nerve. The palatoglossus muscle arises from the palatine aponeurosis of the soft palate and inserts into the side of the tongue. Some of its fibres extend over the dorsum of the tongue, while others pass into the substance of the tongue to intermingle with the transverse muscle.
The palatoglossus muscle functions to elevate the posterior portion of the tongue. It also draws the soft palate inferiorly, narrowing the diameter of the oropharyngeal isthmus. This action is important during swallowing, as it propels food towards the oesophagus and prevents retrograde flow. Additionally, it prevents the spillage of saliva from the vestibule into the oropharynx by maintaining the palatoglossal arch.
The palatoglossus muscle also plays a role in obstructive sleep apnoea. Studies have shown that electrical stimulation of the nerve to this muscle can aid in reducing the burden of this condition. The stimulation causes a forward movement of the tongue base, which may result in the advancement of the palate by displacing the anterior palatal pillar.
The palatoglossus muscle is a crucial component of the tongue's muscular system, contributing to essential functions such as swallowing and maintaining oral hygiene. Its unique innervation and structural integration with the tongue and soft palate highlight its importance in various physiological processes.
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Frequently asked questions
The transverse muscle narrows the tongue.
The transverse muscles are one of four paired intrinsic muscles of the tongue.
Intrinsic muscles are muscles that comprise the core of the tongue and are placed within it. They are responsible for altering the shape of the tongue.
The other types of intrinsic muscles are the superior longitudinal, inferior longitudinal, and vertical muscles.
The transverse muscles also play a role in facilitating speech, eating, and swallowing.
