Muscles of the Tongue

The lingual muscles or Muscles of the Tongue are divided in extrinsic and intrinsic muscles of the tongue.

Extrinsic muscles of the tongue

1. Stylo-glossus
   • It is a long muscle on the ventro-lateral face of the tongue.
   • Origin: Great cornu of the hyoid bone, near its anterior extremity.
   • Insertion:It terminates near the tip of tongue by blending with the fellow of the opposite side and the intrinsic musculature.
   • Action: To retract the tongue and draw it to a side.
2. Hyoglossus
   • It is a wide flat muscle arising from the body and root of the tongue. It retracts and depresses the tongue.
3. Palatoglossus
   • It is a narrow, thin muscle arising from the edge of the soft palate. It passes downwards, blends with the middle hyoglossus and ends on the root of the tongue. This muscle narrows the isthmus faucium
4. Genio-glossus
   • It is a fan shaped muscle, which arises from the medial face of the ramus of the mandible just behind the symphysis and its fibres pass up to the body and root of the tongue. It retracts, depresses and protracts the tongue.
   • Blood supply: Lingual and sublingual arteries.
   • Nerve supply:  Hypoglossal nerves.

Intrinsic muscles of the tongue

The intrinsic are bundles of muscle fibres running in different directions and form the bulk of the tongue. They blend with the former.