Final answer:
Oral myofunctional disorders are related to the abnormal positions and functions of the tongue's muscles. They involve critical extrinsic and intrinsic muscles controlled by the hypoglossal nerve and affect speaking, chewing, and swallowing. Therapy can involve exercises that improve tongue positioning and address issues in labio-lingual coordination.
Step-by-step explanation:
Understanding Oral Myofunctional Disorders
Oral myofunctional disorders involve the muscles of the tongue and their abnormal positioning and functions. Important for various activities including mastication (chewing), deglutition (swallowing), and speech, the extrinsic and intrinsic muscles of the tongue play critical roles. The extrinsic muscles, namely the mylohyoid, hyoglossus, styloglossus, and genioglossus, originate outside of the tongue and insert into it, and are responsible for its gross positioning. In contrast, the intrinsic muscles determine the shape of the tongue.
The hypoglossal nerve controls most tongue movements, with the exception of the palatoglossus muscle which is governed by the vagus nerve. These muscles and nerves are essential not just in the tongue's motion, but also in broader functions including digestion. An impairment of the hypoglossal nerve can lead to incorrect tongue protrusion, which could indicate possible damage to adjacent structures necessary for vital functions such as respiration and digestion.
Addressing disorders related to tongue positioning and function often requires interdisciplinary approaches, including exercises to improve the tongue at rest, and therapies to correct the labio-lingual positioning, ensuring improved speech, swallowing, and breathing.