Podcast
Questions and Answers
What are the main functions of the tongue?
What are the main functions of the tongue?
- Mastication and balance
- Taste and hearing
- Taste and oral hygiene (correct)
- Respiration and digestion
Which part of the tongue is referred to as the apex?
Which part of the tongue is referred to as the apex?
- The root of the tongue
- The tip of the tongue (correct)
- The dorsal surface of the tongue
- The body of the tongue
Which statement best describes the structure of the tongue?
Which statement best describes the structure of the tongue?
- It is a moveable muscular organ (correct)
- It consists entirely of cartilage
- It is a rigid bony structure
- It is primarily composed of adipose tissue
Which of the following is not a function of the tongue?
Which of the following is not a function of the tongue?
What is the dorsal surface of the tongue?
What is the dorsal surface of the tongue?
Which type of muscle is found in the tongue?
Which type of muscle is found in the tongue?
What is the main purpose of the taste buds?
What is the main purpose of the taste buds?
Which of the following variations can affect the appearance of the tongue?
Which of the following variations can affect the appearance of the tongue?
What condition is characterized by an overgrowth of cells creating elongated papillae on the tongue?
What condition is characterized by an overgrowth of cells creating elongated papillae on the tongue?
Which of the following types of cancer accounts for 95% of oropharyngeal cancers?
Which of the following types of cancer accounts for 95% of oropharyngeal cancers?
What is the most common site for squamous cell carcinoma in the tongue?
What is the most common site for squamous cell carcinoma in the tongue?
Which treatment is suggested for black hairy tongue?
Which treatment is suggested for black hairy tongue?
What contributes to the discolouration of black hairy tongue aside from food and bacteria?
What contributes to the discolouration of black hairy tongue aside from food and bacteria?
What structure separates the anterior two thirds and the posterior one third of the tongue?
What structure separates the anterior two thirds and the posterior one third of the tongue?
Which of the following types of lingual papillae have taste buds associated with them?
Which of the following types of lingual papillae have taste buds associated with them?
What is the approximate turnover period for taste bud cells?
What is the approximate turnover period for taste bud cells?
Which area of the tongue is referred to as the root or base?
Which area of the tongue is referred to as the root or base?
Which type of papillae is primarily responsible for the ridges along the lateral border of the tongue?
Which type of papillae is primarily responsible for the ridges along the lateral border of the tongue?
Which structure on the ventral surface is associated with deep lingual veins?
Which structure on the ventral surface is associated with deep lingual veins?
What shape are taste buds primarily characterized as?
What shape are taste buds primarily characterized as?
Which surface of the tongue displays the median lingual sulcus?
Which surface of the tongue displays the median lingual sulcus?
What is the main characteristic feature of the dorsum of the tongue?
What is the main characteristic feature of the dorsum of the tongue?
Which structure serves as the anterior tip of the tongue?
Which structure serves as the anterior tip of the tongue?
What is the main action of the hyoglossus muscle?
What is the main action of the hyoglossus muscle?
Where does the palatoglossus muscle originate?
Where does the palatoglossus muscle originate?
Which muscle is responsible for drawing the tongue upwards and backwards?
Which muscle is responsible for drawing the tongue upwards and backwards?
What is the action of the inferior longitudinal muscle?
What is the action of the inferior longitudinal muscle?
Which intrinsic muscle acts to narrow and lengthen the tongue?
Which intrinsic muscle acts to narrow and lengthen the tongue?
The action of the vertical muscle is to:
The action of the vertical muscle is to:
What is the insertion point of the superior longitudinal muscle?
What is the insertion point of the superior longitudinal muscle?
What common feature do all intrinsic muscles of the tongue share?
What common feature do all intrinsic muscles of the tongue share?
Which of the following muscles does NOT assist in tongue retraction?
Which of the following muscles does NOT assist in tongue retraction?
What is the primary origin location for the vertical muscle?
What is the primary origin location for the vertical muscle?
Which nerve is responsible for the taste sensation in the anterior two-thirds of the tongue?
Which nerve is responsible for the taste sensation in the anterior two-thirds of the tongue?
What is the primary artery supplying blood to the tongue?
What is the primary artery supplying blood to the tongue?
Which condition is characterized by smooth irregular red patches and white wavy lines on the tongue?
Which condition is characterized by smooth irregular red patches and white wavy lines on the tongue?
Which nerve is NOT involved in the motor supply of the tongue?
Which nerve is NOT involved in the motor supply of the tongue?
In which condition might you see changes in tongue texture due to underlying anemia?
In which condition might you see changes in tongue texture due to underlying anemia?
Which of the following is a potential effect of tongue piercings on oral health?
Which of the following is a potential effect of tongue piercings on oral health?
What might aggravate geographic tongue symptoms?
What might aggravate geographic tongue symptoms?
Which of the following conditions can lead to a swollen and red tongue?
Which of the following conditions can lead to a swollen and red tongue?
Which of the following is NOT a form of glossitis?
Which of the following is NOT a form of glossitis?
The primary drainage of the tongue is through which vein?
The primary drainage of the tongue is through which vein?
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Study Notes
The Tongue
- The tongue is a movable muscular organ with a root, body, and tip.
- It has a curved dorsal surface and an inferior ventral surface.
- The tongue plays a crucial role in mastication, swallowing, taste, speech, oral hygiene, and defense.
Structures of the Tongue
- The dorsum (top surface) of the tongue is divided into an anterior two-thirds (oral/body) and a posterior one-third (pharyngeal/base).
- These sections are separated by the sulcus terminalis, a triangle-shaped landmark.
- The foramen caecum is located at the apex of the sulcus terminalis.
- The ventral surface (underside) of the tongue is covered by a thin mucosa and contains structures like the lingual frenum and deep lingual veins.
- The lateral borders of the tongue feature ridges of foliate papillae.
Lingual Papillae
- Four types of lingual papillae are found on the dorsum of the tongue:
- Filiform papillae – most numerous, responsible for texture sensation.
- Fungiform papillae – mushroom-shaped, contain taste buds.
- Circumvallate papillae – largest, arranged in a V-shape, contain taste buds.
- Foliate papillae – located on the lateral borders, contain taste buds.
Taste buds
- Taste buds are barrel-shaped organs composed of 30-80 spindle-shaped cells extending from the basement membrane to the epithelial surface.
- They are found on fungiform, foliate, and circumvallate papillae.
- Taste bud cells have a rapid turnover rate of approximately 10 days.
Muscles of the Tongue
- Extrinsic muscles: Responsible for moving the tongue.
- Hyoglossus: Depresses the tongue and assists in retraction.
- Palatoglossus: Lifts the tongue, closing off the mouth from the pharynx during swallowing.
- Styloglossus: Draws the tongue upwards and backwards.
- Intrinsic muscles: Alter the shape of the tongue.
- Superior Longitudinal Muscle: Shortens the tongue and turns the tip and sides upwards.
- Inferior Longitudinal Muscle: Shortens the tongue and pulls the tip and sides downwards.
- Vertical Muscle: Flattens and broadens the tongue.
- Transverse Muscle: Narrows and lengthens the tongue.
Nerve Innervation
- Sensory and Taste:
- Posterior 1/3: Glossopharyngeal Nerve (IX)
- Anterior 2/3:
- Sensory: Lingual nerve (Trigeminal Nerve V)
- Taste: Chorda Tympani (Facial nerve VII) & Lingual nerve
- Motor:
- Hypoglossal nerve (XII), except for Palatoglossus, which is supplied by the Vagus nerve (X).
Blood Supply
- Arterial: Lingual artery (a branch of the external carotid artery).
- Venous: Lingual vein.
Variations in Tongue Appearance
- Geographic tongue: Benign condition characterized by smooth, irregular red patches and white wavy lines that may change position.
- Glossitis: Inflammation of the tongue, causing swelling, redness, and changes in surface texture. Can be caused by various factors, including anemia, celiac disease, trauma, and allergies.
- Black hairy tongue: Overgrowth of elongated papillae, often caused by smoking, antibiotics, and radiotherapy.
- Tongue piercings: Can impact oral hygiene and tooth integrity.
- Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC): Most common type of oropharyngeal cancer, frequently occurring on the tongue.
Additional Resources
- YouTube:
- Development of the tongue
- Muscles of the tongue (anatomy)
- Websites:
- InformedHealth.org: How does the tongue work?
- KenHub: Muscles and Taste Sensation of the Tongue
- KenHub: Tongue
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