Extrinsic muscles of the tongue

Definition

The extrinsic muscles of the tongue are a group of muscles that originate outside the tongue but insert into it, enabling movements such as protrusion, retraction, elevation, and depression of the tongue. These muscles play a crucial role in speech, swallowing, and food manipulation.

Related terms

Cranial Nerves:

Nerves that emerge directly from the brain (including the brainstem) to innervate various parts of the head and neck; involved in controlling tongue movements among other functions.

Hypoglossal Nerve (Cranial Nerve XII): The motor nerve responsible for innervating all extrinsic and intrinsic muscles of the tongue except for one (palatoglossus), facilitating movement necessary for speech and swallowing.

Palatoglossus Muscle: An intrinsic muscle of the tongue that is actually innervated by a different cranial nerve (the vagus nerve, Cranial Nerve X), playing a role in elevating the back of the tongue during swallowing