Muscles of the Tongue

dorsum

superior surface of the tongue

root

posterior and inferior part of the tongue

lingual frenulum/frenum

joins the inferior tongue and the mandible, stabilizing the tongue during movement

median sulcus

runs longitudinally, dividing the tongue into right and left

median fibrous septum

located under the median sulcus

terminal sulcus

marking the posterior palatine surface

foramen cecum

a deep recess in the tongue; the center of the terminal sulcus

inferior longitudinal

intrinsic muscle with origin in the root of the tongue and body of hyoid and insertion in the apex of the tongue; depresses the tongue tip and assists in tongue retraction

superior longitudinal

intrinsic muscle with origin in epiglottis, hyoid, and median fibrous septum and insertion in lateral edges and apex of the tongue; elevates the tongue tip, assists in tongue retraction

transverse

intrinsic muscle with origin in medial fibrous septum and insertion in sides of the tongue; narrows tongue

vertical

intrinsic muscle with origin in base of tongue and insertion in membranous cover of tongue; flattens tongue

styloglossus

extrinsic muscle with origin in styloid process and insertion in sides of tongue; retracts and elevates tongue

hyoglossus

extrinsic muscle with origin in hyoid bone and insertion in sides of tongue; depresses sides of tongue

genioglossus

extrinsic muscle with origin in inner surface of mandible (near midline) and insertion in tongue tip and dorsum; retracts and protrudes the tongue

palatoglossus

extrinsic muscle with origin in palatine aponeurosis and insertion in sides of tongue; pulls soft palate towards tongue and elevates back of tongue