--- title: "Muscles of Tongue" description: "A detailed overview of the muscles of the tongue." source: "The ENT Resident" author: "Dr. Mausumi Das" canonical_url: "https://www.theentresident.com/ent-notes-lectures/muscles-of-tongue" categories: ["Oral Cavity and Salivary Glands", "Mnemonics in ENT"] video: "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ajBT3SE8_L4" image: "https://media.theentresident.com/og-images/muscles-of-tongue.png" --- # Muscles of Tongue A detailed overview of the muscles of the tongue. Watch the full video lecture on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ajBT3SE8_L4 ## Muscles of the Tongue ### 📚 Classification of Tongue Muscles Muscles of the Tongue are classified based on: 1. **Location** 2. **Function** ### 🟦 Extrinsic Muscles of Tongue - Attach the **tongue** to structures **outside** the tongue. - Responsible for **altering the position** of the tongue. **Four Extrinsic Muscles**: - Genioglossus - Hyoglossus - Styloglossus - Palatoglossus >🧠 Mnemonic: **"Girl Has Super Powers"** G → Genioglossus H → Hyoglossus S → Styloglossus P → Palatoglossus ### 🟨 Intrinsic Muscles of Tongue - **Contained entirely within** the tongue. - Responsible for **altering the shape** of the tongue. **Four Intrinsic Muscles**: - Superior longitudinal - Inferior longitudinal - Transversus linguae - Verticalis linguae --- ### 🏋️ Extrinsic Muscles of Tongue #### 1. Genioglossus - **Importance:** Known as the **"Safety Muscle of the Tongue"**. - **Origin:** Superior Genial Tubercle of the symphysis menti (mandible). - **Insertion:** Fibers spread out in a fan shape: - Lowest fibers: Attach to the body of the **Hyoid bone**. - Intermediate (Middle) fibers: Pass deep to the hyoglossus and continue with the middle constrictor of the pharynx. - Uppermost fibers: Turn forward and upward, inserting into the dorsum of the tongue from the root to the apex. - **Nerve Supply:** Hypoglossal Nerve (CN XII) - **Action:** - Protrudes the tip of the tongue (pulls anterior fibers forward). - Makes the dorsum concave side-to-side (when protruding). - **Prevents backward falling of the tongue** into the oropharynx, thus preventing airway obstruction (reason it's the "safety muscle"). #### 2. Hyoglossus - **Origin:** Upper surface of the Greater Cornu and part of the body of the **Hyoid bone**. - **Insertion:** Passes upward and slightly forward (under the cover of the mylohyoid), inserting into the side of the tongue, between the styloglossus laterally and the inferior longitudinal muscle medially. - **Nerve Supply:** Hypoglossal Nerve (CN XII) - **Action:** Depresses the sides of the tongue; makes the dorsal surface convex. **Chondroglossus:** - Considered a detached part of the hyoglossus muscle, separated by the genioglossus. - **Origin:** Lesser Cornu and part of the body of the Hyoid bone. - **Insertion:** Same as hyoglossus. - **Nerve Supply:** Hypoglossal Nerve (CN XII). - **Action:** Same as hyoglossus (depresses tongue). #### 3. Styloglossus - **Origin:** Tip of the Styloid Process and the Stylomandibular ligament. - **Insertion:** Passes downwards and forwards, inserting into the side of the tongue: - Oblique fibers interdigitate with the hyoglossus muscle. - Longitudinal fibers continue with the inferior longitudinal muscle. - **Nerve Supply:** Hypoglossal Nerve (CN XII) - **Action:** Retracts the tongue backwards and upwards (antagonistic to genioglossus protrusion). #### 4. Palatoglossus - **Origin:** Undersurface of the Palatine Aponeurosis (soft palate). - **Insertion:** Passes downwards and forwards (under the palatoglossal arch), inserting into the side of the tongue in front of the Sulcus Terminalis. Most fibers are continuous with the transversus linguae muscle. - **Nerve Supply:** _**EXCEPTION!** Supplied by the **cranial part of the Accessory Nerve (CN XI)** via the **Pharyngeal Plexus** (not the Hypoglossal nerve)._ - **Action:** Elevates the base of the tongue; helps to narrow the oropharyngeal isthmus (separating oral cavity from oropharynx). --- ### 🏋️ Intrinsic Muscles of Tongue #### 1. Superior Longitudinal - **Origin:** Posterior part of the median fibrous septum and submucosa near the root. - **Insertion:** Passes forwards and laterally, inserting into the side of the tongue (submucosa near the margin). - **Action:** Shortens the tongue; makes the dorsal surface concave from side to side (e.g., creating a furrow). #### 2. Inferior Longitudinal - **Origin:** Posterior part of the side of the tongue and root. - **Insertion:** Converges forwards for insertion into the anterior part of the median fibrous septum and tip. - **Action:** Shortens the tongue; makes the dorsal surface convex from side to side (e.g., rounding the tip). #### 3. Transversus Linguae - **Origin:** Median fibrous septum. - **Insertion:** Passes laterally through the genioglossus muscle, inserting into the side of the tongue (submucosa). - **Action:** Reduces the width of the tongue and increases its length (elongates and narrows). #### 4. Verticalis Linguae - **Origin:** Lamina propria of the dorsum of the tongue (submucosa). - **Insertion:** Passes downwards through the fibers of genioglossus and transversus, inserting into the sides of the tongue (submucosa on the ventral surface). - **Action:** Increases the width and flattens the tongue; makes the dorsal surface concave from side to side (similar to superior longitudinal, helps cup the tongue). --- ### 📊 Summary of Tongue Muscle Actions Here's a compilation of how the muscles work together: - **Makes Dorsum Concave Side-to-Side:** Genioglossus (protrusion), Superior Longitudinal, Verticalis Linguae. - **Makes Dorsum Convex Side-to-Side:** Hyoglossus, Inferior Longitudinal. - **Shortens the Tongue:** Superior Longitudinal, Inferior Longitudinal, Verticalis Linguae. - **Elongates (Increases Length) and Narrows the Tongue:** Transversus Linguae. - **Protrudes the Tongue:** Genioglossus. - **Retracts the Tongue (Back & Up):** Styloglossus. - **Depresses the Tongue:** Hyoglossus. - **Elevates the Base/Narrows Oropharyngeal Isthmus:** Palatoglossus. --- ## About This Note This free ENT note on Muscles of Tongue was written by Dr. Mausumi Das and is paired with a corresponding video lecture. 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