Final answer:
The extrinsic tongue muscles originate from outside the tongue and are responsible for its overall movements, but not for changing the tongue's shape, which is a function of intrinsic muscles. The major extrinsic muscles include the mylohyoid, hyoglossus, styloglossus, and genioglossus, and they help in positioning the tongue for speaking and swallowing.
Step-by-step explanation:
If I were explaining the extrinsic tongue muscles to someone who does not understand them, I would mention that these muscles have an important role in the movement of the tongue. However, one statement you should not tell them is that A)'extrinsic muscles allow the tongue to change its shape, such as by curling into a loop or flattening.' This is because it is actually the intrinsic muscles of the tongue that are responsible for changing the shape and size of the tongue for actions such as curling the tongue or flattening it.
The extrinsic muscles, which include the mylohyoid, hyoglossus, styloglossus, and genioglossus, originate from outside the tongue and insert into it. They are responsible for moving the whole tongue in various directions, including upward, downward, forward, and backward motion. By anchoring the tongue to the skeleton, actions like swallowing and speaking are made possible, thanks to connections such as the hyoid bone, the styloid process, and the mandible. These muscles perform crucial roles in positioning food for chewing, gathering food into a bolus, and helping with swallowing.