Tongue

Question 1

What are the functions of Tongue?

Answer 1

(i) taste, (ii) speech, (iii) chewing, (iv) deglutition, and
(v) cleansing of mouth.

Question 2

Tongue is basically divided into

Answer 2

1) A root
2) A tip
3) A body
Upper surface called dorsum
Inferior surface

Question 3

What are the attachment of root of tongue?

Answer 3

Root is attached to styloid process and soft palate above.
To mandible and hyoid bone below.

Question 4

Dorsum of tongue is divided into

Answer 4

Anterior two-third - Oral part
Posterior one-third - pharyngeal part
Small posteriormost part

Question 5

Describe oral part of tongue.

Answer 5

Superior surface which has median furrow and is covered with papillae.
Inferior surface covered with smooth mucous membrane and has median fold called the
frenulum linguae.

Question 6

Describe pharyngeal part of tongue.

Answer 6

It contains only lymphoid follicles which constitute lingual tonsil and forms anterior wall of oropharynx.

Question 7

Describe posteriormost part of tongue.

Answer 7

It is posteriormost part of tongue and is connected to tongue by folds of mucous membranes.
Median glossoepiglotic fold
Left glossoepiglotic fold
Right glossoepiglotic fold

Question 8

What is glossitis?

Answer 8

Ulceration
of the mouth cavity .

Question 9

What is acute glossitis?

Answer 9

Enormous swelling of tongue due to presence of a rich network of lymphatics and
of loose areolar tissue in the substance of tongue.

Question 10

Which part of tongue can be used to observe jaundice?

Answer 10

Undersurface of tongue.

Question 11

Waldeyer ring is formed by

Answer 11

It’s part is formed by lingual tonsil in posterior one-third.

Question 12

What are the papillae of tongue?

Answer 12

Projections of mucous membranes or corium on surface of anterior two-third which contains taste buds.

Question 13

What are the four types of papillae?

Answer 13

Circumvallate papillae
Fungiform papillae
Filiform papillae
Foliate papillae

Question 14

What is role of middle fibrous septum in tongue?

Answer 14

It divides the tongue in right and left halves with each half containing 4 Extrinsic and 4 Intrinsic muscles.

Question 15

Name 4 Intrinsic muscles of tongue with their actions.

Answer 15

Superior longitudinal - shortens tongue with dorsum concave.
Inferior longitudinal - shortens tongue with dorsum convex.
Transverse - Make tongue narrow and elongated.
Vertical - Make tongue broad and flattened.

Question 16

Name 4 Extrinsic muscles of tongue with their actions.

Answer 16

Genioglossus - protrudes the tongue
Hyoglossus - Depressed the tongue
Styloglossus - retracts the tongue
Palatoglossus - elevates the tongue

Question 17

What is nerve supply of muscles of tongue?

Answer 17

Palatoglossus is supplied by cranial root of accessory nerve.
Rest all extrinsic and intrinsic muscles are supplied by hypoglossal nerve.

Question 18

What is sensory nerve supply of tongue?

Answer 18

Anterior two-third
Lingual nerve for general sensation
Chorda tympani is nerve of taste

Posterior one-third
Glossopharyngeal is nerve of general sensation and taste.

Posteriormost part by vagus nerve

Question 19

Nerve of muscles of tongue leave cranial cavity through

Answer 19

Hypoglossal nerve leaves cranial cavity through hypoglossal canal.

Question 20

Carcinoma of tongue is more dangerous in posterior one-third due to

Answer 20

It is dangerous due to bilateral lymphatic spread.

Question 21

Sorbitrate is taken sublingually for immediate
relief from angina pectoris because

Answer 21

It is absorbed fast
because of rich blood supply of the tongue and
bypassing of portal circulation.

Question 22

Genioglossus is called the ‘safety muscle of the
tongue’ because

Answer 22

if it is paralysed, the tongue will
fall back on the oropharynx and block the air
passage.

Question 23

Which muscle is used for testing integrity of hypoglossal nerve?

Answer 23

Palatoglossus muscle
If right side paralysed , tongue protrusion will deviate to right.

Question 24

Taste from circumvallate papillae is carried by which nerve?

Answer 24

These are 10 to 12 in number whose taste is carried by 9th cranial nerve.

Question 25

What is origin of development of parts of tongue?

Answer 25

Anterior two-third from 1st arch - lingual and chordae tympani nerve
Posterior one-third from 3rd arch - supplied by 9th nerve
Posteriormost part develops from 4th arch - supplied by vagus nerve

Question 26

Bulk of tongue is made of which muscles?

Answer 26

Straited muscles

Question 27

Mucous membrane or corium which is layer of connective tissue is lined by

Answer 27

Stratified squamous epithelium

Question 28

Describe Histology of dorsum of tongue.

Answer 28

Dorsum of tongue is divided into 3 parts. Oral, pharyngeal and inferior part.
Oral part forms papillae and adherant to muscles.
Pharyngeal part is rich in lymphoid follicles.
Inferior surface has serous and mucous glands.