Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
The root of the tongue is the posterior third of the tongue that anchors it to the floor of the mouth and the hyoid bone. It plays a crucial role in swallowing and speech production.
A horseshoe-shaped bone situated in the anterior midline of the neck between the chin and thyroid cartilage, serving as an anchor point for tongue muscles.
A muscular tube that connects the nasal and oral cavities to the esophagus and larynx, playing a key role in breathing, swallowing, and speech.
Swallowing: A complex process involving over 50 pairs of muscles and many nerves, working to move food from the mouth through the pharynx and into the esophagus