DEN 103 LAB: Extrinsic muscles of the tongue

Genioglossus

• Location: under tongue, fan-shaped, large & thick

• Origin: genile tubercle

• Insertion: tongue & hyoid bone

• Function: stick tongue out, push it forward

Hyoglossus

• Location: floor of mouth

• Origin: hyoid & greater cornu of body 

• Insertion: side of tongue

• Function: depress tongue, press it down

Styloglossus

• Location: Thin paired muscle on either side of oropharynx

• Origin: styloid process

• Insertion: side of tongue

• Function: retract tongue, up & backward

Palatoglossus

• Location: anterior palatal arch, soft palate

• Origin: underside of soft palate 

• Insertion: side of tongue 

• Function: constricts pillars, pulls sides of tongue up & back, pulls soft palate down