General Anatomy Development and Anatomy of the

Tongue

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Development and Anatomy of the

Tongue

2019 / 2020
General Anatomy Development and Anatomy of the
Tongue

Introduction
The tongue is a unique organ located in the oral cavity that not only
facilitates perception of gustatory stimuli but also plays important roles in
mastication and deglutition. Additionally, the tongue is an integral component of
the speech pathway, as it helps with articulation. The tongue is an extremely
sensitive organ that performs on a complex muscle background. The primary
functions of the stomatognathic system, such as mastication, deglutition, and
speech, require the active involvement of the tongue. Embryologically, the
development of tongue is a very complicated process that starts around the fourth
or fifth week of the gestation period, and its development has a marked influence
on the oral cavity.

Development and Innervation

Anterior two thirds

The tongue starts to develop at fourth week of intrauterine life. The first,
second, third, and fourth pharyngeal arches contribute to the development of the
different parts of the tongue. The development begins with the expansion of a
medial swelling from the 1st pharyngeal arch, called tuberculum impar. Gradually,
2 lateral lingual swellings begin to grow within the fifth week from the same arch.
Because the lateral swellings increase in size, they finally merge and overlap
tuberculum impar. This merging result in the formation of the anterior 2/3 of the
tongue. Since the mucosa surrounds this space of the tongue has its origin from the
1st pharyngeal arch; it receives sensory innervation from mandibular branch of the
fifth cranial nerve known as trigeminal nerve.

Posterior third

Meantime, from the mesoderm of the second, third, and fourth pharyngeal
arches, other median swelling, called hypobranchial eminence, starts to develop
and form the posterior 1/3 of the tongue. The mucosa overlying this space of the
tongue receives sensory innervation from the ninth cranial nerve known as
glossopharyngeal nerve. The posterior most portion of the tongue formed from a

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General Anatomy Development and Anatomy of the
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3rd median swelling, arising from the 4 th pharyngeal arch. This space of the tongue
receives innervations from the superior laryngeal nerve.

Muscles

The muscles of the tongue derive from the myoblasts that originate within
the occipital somites. They receive innervations from the 12 th cranial nerve known
as hypoglossal nerve, except the palatoglossus muscle. The muscles of the tongue
divided to extrinsic and intrinsic muscles. The extrinsic muscles are 4 in number
(genioglossus, palatoglossus, styloglossus and hyoglossus) and arise from the
structures beside to the tongue. They permit the tongue to move in all directions.
On the opposite hand, the four paired intrinsic muscles that include superior
longitudinal, inferior longitudinal, verticalis, and transverses muscle have their
origin likewise insertion within the tongue. They’re responsible for changing the
tongue shape.

Taste bud

The first sign of development of taste bud on the lingual epithelium happens
within the eighth week of gestation. Between the ninth and eleventh week of
gestation, several taste bud primordia develop. They differentiate into different cell
types within the eleventh via the thirteenth postovulatory week. Throughout this
period, taste pores also develop.[1]

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General Anatomy Development and Anatomy of the
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Figure (1): development of tongue.

Anatomy
Anterior two thirds
The presulcal tongue includes the apex and body of the organ. It terminates
at the sulcus terminalis; which can be seen extending laterally in an oblique
direction from the foramen cecum towards the palatoglossal arch. The mucosa of
the dorsal surface of the oral tongue is made up of circumvallate, filiform, and
fungiform papillae. There is also a longitudinal midline groove running in an
anteroposterior direction from the tip of the tongue to the foramen cecum. On the
lateral surface of the oral tongue are foliate papillae arranged as a series of vertical
folds. The ventral mucosa of the oral tongue is comparatively unremarkable. It is
smooth and continuous with the mucosa of the floor of the mouth and the inferior
gingiva. The lingual veins are relatively superficial and can be appreciated on
either side of the lingual frenulum. Lateral to the lingual veins are pleated folds of
mucosa known as the plica fimbriata. They are angled anteromedially toward the
apex of the tongue.
Posterior third
The remainder of the tongue that lies posterior to the sulcus terminalis is
made up by the base of the organ. It lies behind the palatoglossal folds and
functions as the anterior wall of the oropharynx. Unlike the oral tongue, the
pharyngeal tongue does not have any lingual papillae. Instead, its mucosa is
populated by aggregates of lymphatic tissue known as the lingual tonsils.
Muscles

Intrinsic tongue muscles

 The superior longitudinal muscles are made up of a thin layer of muscle

fibers. These muscles are responsible for retracting and broadening the
tongue, as well as elevating the tip of the tongue. The net effect of these
muscles results in shortening of the organ.
 Another set of muscles occupy the dorsoventral plane of the tongue deep to
the superior longitudinal muscles. These are the vertical muscles that
facilitate flattening and widening of the tongue.
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General Anatomy Development and Anatomy of the
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 Deep to the ventral muscles is the layer of transverse muscles of the

tongue. As these muscles contract, they cause the tongue to narrow and
elongate.
 Finally, the inferior longitudinal muscles travel above the ventral
submucosa of the tongue. The muscle fibers end in the apex of the tongue;
allowing the muscle to pull the tip of the tongue inferiorly and also
shortening the organ.

Extrinsic tongue muscles

 Palatoglossus is anatomically a part of the pharyngeal group of muscles.
However, its attachments to the tongue mean that it is also an extrinsic
tongue muscle. Its role is to elevate the dorsal surface of the tongue, and to
act as a sphincter at the oropharyngeal isthmus.
 Styloglossus originates from the anterolateral surface of the styloid process.
It is the smallest and shortest of the three styloid muscles. It assists in
retraction of the tongue (moving it posterosuperiorly).
 Genioglossus originates from a slender tendon that is attached to the
superior genial tubercle. This attachment prevents the tongue from falling
backward and obstructing the airway when an individual is supine.
 Hyoglossus originates from the entire greater cornu of the hyoid bone as a
slender, quadrilateral muscle. It is often accompanied by chondroglossus.
Hyoglossus takes a vertical course cranially, where it pierces the
inferolateral margins of the tongue and subsequently blends between the
inferior longitudinal muscles and the styloglossus.

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General Anatomy Development and Anatomy of the
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Figure (2): structure of tongue.

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General Anatomy Development and Anatomy of the
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Function
The tongue contributes in various functions as taste, speech, food manipulation and
cleaning of the oral cavity.

Taste Functions

The dorsal surface of the tongue is surrounded by a stratified squamous

epithelial tissue, with many papillae as circumvallate papilla, fungiform papilla,
filiform papilla and foliate papilla. Taste buds that are intraepithelial chemosensory
organs present among these papillae are responsible for taste sensation. The
circumvallate papilla carries the greatest number of taste buds. These taste buds
through gustatory cell receptors move within the chemicals present within the food
and induce completely different taste sensations (sweet, salty, sour and bitter).

Speech Functions

Various speech sounds need the overlapping of the tongue with the teeth and
different portions of the palate. The linguodental sounds like “Th” need interaction
between the tip of the tongue with the incisal surface of upper and lower incisors.
The linguopalatal sounds might include the contact of the tongue with the anterior
or the posterior portion of the hard palate. When the tip of the tongue connects
with the anterior portion of the hard palate, sounds like “D, T, N and Z” is created.
Once the tongue forms a valve and connects the posterior portion of the hard
palate, it creates sounds like “Ch and Sh.” The velar sounds include a connection
of the posterior portion of the tongue with the soft palate. these sounds include “K
and G.”

Food Manipulation Functions

The tongue helps in moving the food on to the occlusal surface of the teeth,
and mix it with saliva because the food move away from the teeth, and in putting
the food again on the teeth.[4] Thus, it aids in the formation of food bolus
throughout the oral phase of deglutition. It also ais in propellent the food bolus
distally to the anterior tonsillar pillar, that triggers the swallowing reflex.

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Conclusion:

The tongue has three main parts:

 The tip or apex of the tongue is the most anterior, and most mobile aspect of
the organ.
 The tip is followed by the body of the tongue. It has a rough dorsal
(superior) surface, and a smooth ventral (inferior) surface.
 The base of the tongue is the most posterior part of the organ. It is populated
by numerous lymphoid aggregates known as the lingual tonsils.

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References
1.
Witt M, Reutter K. Embryonic and early fetal development of human taste buds: a
transmission electron microscopical study. Anat. Rec. 1996 Dec;246(4):507-23.
[PubMed]
2.
Parada C, Han D, Chai Y. Molecular and cellular regulatory mechanisms of tongue
myogenesis. J. Dent. Res. 2012 Jun;91(6):528-35. [PMC free article] [PubMed]
3.
Hosokawa R, Oka K, Yamaza T, Iwata J, Urata M, Xu X, Bringas P, Nonaka K,
Chai Y. TGF-beta mediated FGF10 signaling in cranial neural crest cells controls
development of myogenic progenitor cells through tissue-tissue interactions during
tongue morphogenesis. Dev. Biol. 2010 May 01;341(1):186-95. [PMC free article]
[PubMed]
4.
Logemann JA. Critical Factors in the Oral Control Needed for Chewing and
Swallowing. J Texture Stud. 2014 Jun 01;45(3):173-179. [PMC free article]
[PubMed]
5.
Solomon NP. Assessment of tongue weakness and fatigue. Int J Orofacial
Myology. 2004 Nov;30:8-19. [PMC free article] [PubMed]
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Kotlow LA. Ankyloglossia (tongue-tie): a diagnostic and treatment quandary.
Quintessence Int. 1999 Apr;30(4):259-62. [PubMed]
7.
Surej KL, Kurien NM, Sivan MP. Isolated congenital bifid tongue. Natl J
Maxillofac Surg. 2010 Jul;1(2):187-9. [PMC free article] [PubMed]
General Anatomy Development and Anatomy of the
Tongue