Tongue
External features1. Root
2. Tip
3. Body- dorsum or superior surface & inferior surface
Root-attached to the mandible & soft palate above and to the hyoid bone below.
Tip- anterior free end & lies behind the upper incisor teeth.
Dorsum-oral part or ant 2/3rd & pharyngeal part or post 1/3rd part, V shaped
groove- suclus terminalis, median pit- foramen caecum.
Oral part or papillary part of the tongue- foliate papillae 4 to 5 vertical folds in
front of the palatoglossal arch, rough superior surface and covered with
papillae, inferior surface smooth mucous membrane which shows the
median fold- frenulum lingulae, plica fimbriata
Pharyngeal part or lymphoid part of the tongue- lies behind the palatoglossal
arches and the sulcus terminalis. It forms the base of the tongue forming
the anterior wall of the oropharynx. Devoid of the papillae & has many
lymphoid follicles. Lingual tonsil & mucous gland are also present.
Posterior most part- connected to epiglottis by 3folds of mucous membranemedian glossoepiglottic fold, rt and lt glossoepiglottic folds. Vallecula
Tongue
Tongue
Tongue
Papillae of the tongue
1. Vallate or circumvallate papillae- 1-2 mm in
diameter & 8-12in number
2. Fungiform papillae- numerous near the tip &
margins of the tongue
3. Filiform papillae or conical papillae- presulcal
area of the dorsum of the tongue and gives the
velvety appearance
Tongue
Tongue
Muscles of the
tongueIntrinsic
muscles1. Superior
longitudinal
2. Inferior
longitudinal
3. Transverse
4. Vertical
Tongue
Tongue
Extrinsic muscles• Genioglossus
• Hyoglossus
• Styloglossus
• palatoglossus
Tongue
Tongue
Arterial supply• Lingual artery
• Root of tongue is supplied by the tonsillar &
ascending pharyngeal arteries
Venous drainageDeep lingual vein- lingual vein- CFV or IJV
Tongue
Lymphatic drainage1. Tip of the tonguesubmental lymph
nodes
2. Rt and lt halves of
the remaining ant
2/3rd- submandibular
nodes
3. Posterior 1/3rdbilaterally- juguloomohyoid nodes and
these are know as
the lymph nodes of
the tongue
Tongue
Nerve supplyMotor nervesall the intrinsic & extrinsic muscles expect the palatoglossus
are supplied by the hypoglossal nerve.
Palatoglossus supplied by the cranial part of the accessory
nerve through pharyngeal plexus
Sensory nervesLingual nerve for general sensation and chorda tympani for the
taste of ant 2/3rd of the tongue except vallate papillae.
Glossopharyngeal nerve is both general sensory and taste for
the post 1/3rd of the tongue including circumvallate papillae
Posteriormost part of the tongue is supplied by the vagus nerve
through the internal laryngeal nerve.
Tongue