MUSCLES OF TONGUE
INTRINSIC MUSCLES:
- Superior Longitudinal
- Inferior Longitudinal
- Transverse
- Vertical
EXTRINSIC MUSCLES:
- Styloglossus
- Hyoglossus
- Genioglossus( Safety muscle of tongue)
- Palatoglossus
| MUSCLES | ORIGIN | INSERTION | ACTION(S) | INNERVATION |
| Genioglossus | Upper genial tubercle of mandible |
Upper fibres: tip of the tongue
Middle fibres: dorsum Lower fibres: hyoid bone |
Upper fibres: retract the tip
Middle fibres: depress the tongue Lower fibres: pull the posterior part forward (thus protude the tongue and deviates it to opposite side) |
Hypoglossal nerve |
| Hyoglossus | Greater cornu, front of lateral part of body of hyoid bone | Side of tongue |
Depress the tongue
Retracting the protruded tongue |
Hypoglossal nerve |
| Styloglossus | Tip, anterior surface of styloid process | Side of tongue | Pulls the tongue upwards and backwards during swallowing | Hypoglossal nerve |
| Palatoglossus | Oral surface of palatine aponeurosis | Side of tongue (junction of oral and pharygeal part) | Pulls up root of tongue, approximates palatoglossal arches, closes oropharyngeal isthmus | Pharyngeal Plexus |
Intrinsic muscles
| MUSCLES | ORIGIN | INSERTION | ACTION |
| Superior Longitudinal | Submucous fibrous layer below the dorsum of the tongue and lingual septum | Extends to the lingual margin |
Turns the apex and sides of the tongue upward to make the dorsum concave |
|
Inferior Longitudinal
(Narrow band close to the inferior surface of the tongue)
|
Root of tongue and body of hyoid bone | Apex of tongue | Curls the tip inferiorly and shortens the tongue |
| Transverse | Median fibrous septum | Fibrous tissue at the margins of tongue |
Narrows and elongates the tongue |
| Vertical |
Dorsum surface of the borders of the tongue | Ventral surface of the borders of the tongue | Flattens and broadens the tongue |
Exam Important
- Tongue muscle derived from occipital myotomes.
- Motor supply to the muscles of the tongue is by Hypoglossal nerve
- Palatoglossus is only muscle of tongue not supplied by hypoglossal nerve.
- Platoglossus muscle supplied by vago-accessory complex i.e. through pharyngeal plexus of nerves.
- Genioglossus is the Safety muscle of tongue.
- Genioglossus- protude the tongue and deviates it to opposite side.
- Protrusion of tongue not possible in damage of Genioglossus muscle.
- Ipsilateral deviation of tongue in XIIth nerve palsy is due to unaltered action of contralateral Genioglossus.
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