Question

What are the extrinsic muscles of the tongue?

1) Hyoglossus
2) Genioglossus
3) Styloglossus
4) Palatoglossus

Answer 1

The extrinsic muscles of the tongue include the palatoglossus, hyoglossus, styloglossus, and genioglossus, each responsible for various movements that aid in chewing and swallowing food.

Step-by-step explanation:

The extrinsic muscles of the tongue are important for various oral functions such as moving food during chewing and assisting with swallowing. These muscles include the palatoglossus, hyoglossus, styloglossus, and genioglossus. Each of these muscles has a different origin point and performs distinct movements of the tongue:

• The genioglossus originates on the mandible and moves the tongue downward and forward.
• The styloglossus originates on the styloid bone, moving the tongue upward and backward.
• The palatoglossus originates on the soft palate, elevating the back of the tongue.
• The hyoglossus originates on the hyoid bone to move the tongue downward and flatten it.

Collectively, these extrinsic tongue muscles work together to position food for optimal chewing, gather food into a bolus, and position food for swallowing.