Anatomy of the Tongue

Anatomy of the Tongue

Anatomy of the Tongue

Objectives

By the end of these revision notes, you should:

Muscles

The first aspect of the anatomy of the tongue that should be considered are the muscles of the tongue. These are divided in to two types: intrinsic muscles and extrinsic muscles

Intrinsic muscles

Intrinsic muscles originate within and attach to structures within the tongue. There are four paired sets of muscles, named based on their direction of travel of the fibres:

  • Transverse
  • Vertical
  • Superior longitudinal
  • Inferior longitudinal 
These muscles are crucial in determining the size and shape of the tongue.

Extrinsic muscles

The extrinsic muscles originate from structures outside the tongue and insert in to it. There are also four extrinsic muscles outlined below. 

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Innervation of Tongue and Associated Muscles

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Vasculature and Lymphatic Drainage

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Embryological Development

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Summary - Anatomy of the Tongue

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