TONGUE

Tongue
derived from 1st-4th branchial arches
manipulates food for chewing and swallowing
contains no bony supports for the muscles
the extrinsic muscles of the tongue anchor the tongue firmly to
surrounding bones and prevent the mythical possibility of
'swallowing' the tongue

sensitive and kept moist by saliva, and is richly supplied

with nerves and blood vessels to help it move

Anatomy
made mainly of skeletal muscle
dorsum
oral part (anterior two-thirds of
the tongue) that lies mostly in
the mouth
pharyngeal part (posterior
third of the tongue), which faces
backward to the oropharynx
separated by a V-shaped groove,
which marks the sulcus
terminalis

Anatomy
Normal name

Anatomical name

Adjective

Tongue tip
Tongue blade

Apex
Lamina

Apical
Laminal

Tongue dorsum

Dorsum

Dorsal

Tongue root
Tongue body

Radix
Corpus

Radical
Corporeal

Extrinsic Muscles of the

Tongue
Muscle

From

Nerve

Function

Genioglossus

mandibl
e

hypoglossal
nerve

protrudes the tongue as well as depressing its center.

Hyoglosus

hyoid
bone

hypoglossal
nerve

depresses the tongue.

Styloglossus

styloid
process

hypoglossal
nerve

elevates and retracts the tongue.

Palatoglossus

palatine
aponeur
osis

pharyngeal
branch of
vagus nerve

depresses the soft palate, moves the palatoglossal

fold towards the midline, and elevates the back of the
tongue.

Intrinsic Muscles of the Tongue

superior longitudinal muscle: assists in retraction of, or deviates
the tip of the tongue
originates near the epiglottis, the hyoid bone, from the median
fibrous septum

inferior longitudinal muscle: lines the sides of the tongue, and is

joined to the styloglossus muscle
verticalis muscle: joins the superior and inferior longitudinal
muscles
transversus muscle: divides the tongue at the middle

Pappilae
The oral part of the tongue is covered with small bumpy
projections called papillae. There are four types of
papillae:

filiform (thread-shape)
fungiform (mushroom-shape)
circumvallate (ringed-circle)
foliate (leaf-shape)

All papillae except the filiform have taste buds on their

surface

Blood Supply
primarily from the lingual artery, a branch
of the external carotid artery.
secondary blood supply to the tongue from
the tonsillar branch of the facial artery and
the ascending pharyngeal artery

Nerve Supply
Motor innervation: hypoglossal nerve
the palatoglossal muscle is innervated by the pharyngeal
branch of vagus nerve
Sensory Innervation
somatic sensations: lingual nerve, a major branch of the
mandibular nerve; also carries general sensation from areas of
the oral mucosa and gingiva of the lower teeth.
taste sensation: facial nerve via the chorda tympani; also
carries parasympathetic fibers from the facial nerve to the
submandibular ganglion
posterior one-third of the tounge: glossopharyngeal nerve

Function
assists in forming the
sounds of speech
it is the primary organ
of taste
much of the surface of
the tongue is covered
in taste buds