Tongue Muscles

Question 1

Hyoglossus

Answer 1

Origin: body and greater horn of hyoid bone

Insertion: lateral and inferior aspect of tongue

Innervation: hypoglossal nerve (CN XII)

Blood Supply: sublingual and submental arteries

Action: depresses and retracts tongue

Question 2

Palatoglossus

Answer 2

Origin: palatine aponeurosis of soft palate

Insertion: lateral aspect of tongue

Innervation: vagus nerve via pharyngeal plexus

Blood Supply: ascending pharyngeal artery branch of facial artery and descending palatine artery branch of maxillary artery

Action: elevates posterior tongue and depresses palate

Question 3

Genioglossus

Answer 3

Origin: mental spine of mandible

Insertion: dorsum of tongue and hyoid bone

Innervation: hypoglossal nerve

Blood Supply: sublingual and submental arteries

Action: depresses and protrudes tongue

Question 4

Styloglossus

Answer 4

Origin: styloid process and stylohyoid ligament

Insertion: lateral and inferior aspect of tongue

Innervation: hypoglossal nerve

Blood Supply: sublingual artery

Action: retracts tongue and draws it up for swallowing

Question 5

Tensor Veli Palatini

Answer 5

Origin: scaphoid fossa of medial pterygoid plate, spine of sphenoid, and pharyngotympanic (auditory, eustachian) tube

Insertion: palatine aponeurosis

Innervation: mandibular nerve

Blood Supply: ascending palatine artery branch of facial artery and descending palatine artery branch of maxillary artery

Action: tenses soft palate, opens auditory tube during swallowing and yawning

Question 6

Levator Veli Palatini

Answer 6

Origin: temporal bone (petrous portion)

Insertion: palatine aponeurosis

Innervation: vagus nerve via pharyngeal plexus

Blood Supply: ascending palatine artery branch of facial artery and descending palatine artery branch of maxillary artery

Action: elevates soft palate during swallowing