Oral Cavity: Floor of Mouth & Tongue

Question 1

Define the boundaries of the oral cavity (Roof, Floor & Lateral walls)

Answer 1

Roof = Hard & soft palate
Floor = Mainly soft tissues, including tongue
Lateral walls = Cheeks

Question 2

What are the main contents of the floor of the mouth?

Answer 2

• Mylohyoid muscles
• Geniohyoid muscles (sits deeper to the mylohyoid)
• Sublingual and submandibular glands
• Intrinsic & Extrinsic muscles of the tongue

Question 3

What are the 2 categories of the muscles of the tongue?

Answer 3

Intrinsic & Extrinsic muscles

Question 4

What are the Extrinsic muscles of the tongue?

Answer 4

• Genioglossus
• Hyoglossus
• Styloglossus
• Palatoglossus

Question 5

What are the intrinsic muscles of the tongue?

Answer 5

• Superior longitudinal
• Vertical
• Transverse
• Inferior longitudinal

Question 6

Why are they some of the muscles of the tongue called intrinsic?

Answer 6

They change the size & shape of the tongue

Question 7

Why are they some of the muscles of the tongue called extrinsic?

Answer 7

They originate from outside of the tongue and are responsible for protrusion, retraction, elevation & depression of the tongue

Question 8

Where is the genioglossus located, its origin, and its function?

Answer 8

Superior to the geniohyoid muscles (originates from superior mental spine of mandible), protrusion of tongue

Question 9

Where is the hyoglossus located, its origin, and its function?

Answer 9

Lateral to the genioglossus muscle (originates from greater horn of hyoid), depressing sides of the tongue

Question 10

Where is the styloglossus located and its function?

Answer 10

Originates from styloid process of temporal bone and runs down the lateral border of the tongue, elevation & retraction

Question 11

Where is the palatoglossus located and its function?

Answer 11

Near the top of the tongue, originates from the soft palate, elevate posterior portion of tongue

Question 12

What muscles of the tongue/floor of mouth does the hypoglossal nerve (CN XII) innervate? (Motor)

Answer 12

Intrinsic muscles
Genioglossus
Hyoglossus
Styloglossus

Question 13

What are the sensory innervations of the anterior 2/3rds tongue?

Answer 13

General sensation (Lingual nerve From CN V3)
Special (taste) sensation (Facial Nerve VII)

Question 14

What nerve innervates the posterior 1/3rd of tongue?

Answer 14

Glossopharyngeal nerve (CN IX)

Question 15

What is the 1 muscle of the tongue that is innervated by the vagus nerve (CN X)?

Answer 15

Palatoglossus

Question 16

What is the main blood supply to the tongue and from what carotid artery does it come from?

Answer 16

Lingual artery, external jugular artery