The superior longitudinal muscle of tongue or superior lingualis is a thin layer of oblique and longitudinal fibers immediately underlying the mucous membrane on the dorsum of the

tongue The tongue is a muscular organ in the mouth of a typical tetrapod. It manipulates food for mastication and swallowing as part of the digestive process, and is the primary organ of taste. The tongue's upper surface (dorsum) is covered by taste ...

Structure

The superior longitudinal muscle of the tongue is one of the intrinsic muscles of the

. It arises from the submucous fibrous layer close to the

epiglottis The epiglottis is a leaf-shaped flap in the throat that prevents food and water from entering the trachea and the lungs. It stays open during breathing, allowing air into the larynx. During swallowing, it closes to prevent aspiration of food in ...

and from the median fibrous septum, and runs forward to the edges of the tongue.

Nerve supply

The superior longitudinal muscle of the tongue is supplied by the

hypoglossal nerve The hypoglossal nerve, also known as the twelfth cranial nerve, cranial nerve XII, or simply CN XII, is a cranial nerve that innervates all the extrinsic and intrinsic muscles of the tongue except for the palatoglossus, which is innervated by ...

(CN XII).

Function

The superior longitudinal muscle of the tongue works with the other intrinsic muscles to move the

References

Muscles of the head and neck Tongue {{muscle-stub