Description
The muscles of the tongue consist primarily of two groups of muscles, the extrinsic and intrinsic muscles of the tongue. The intrinsic muscles form the bulk of the tongue on each side, which is connected together along the lingual septum. They are responsible for changing its shape, movements required for deglutition and phonation. The intrinsic muscle group include the:
- superior longitudinal lingual muscle;
- inferior longitudinal lingual muscle;
- transversus linguae muscle;
- verticalis linguae muscle.
Collectively, the intrinsic muscles of the tongue are supplied by the lingual artery and are innervated by the hypoglossal nerve (CN XII).
Related parts of the anatomy
