Vertical muscle of tongue

Vertical muscle of tongue

Vertical muscle of tongue, shown in red

The Vertical muscle of tongue is one of the four intrinsic muscles of the tongue. The other three are the superior longitudinal muscle, the inferior longitudinal muscle, and the transverse muscle of tongue. These muscles alter the shape of the tongue for speech and swallowing.

Anatomy

The vertical muscle is found in the middle of the tongue, between the superior longitudinal muscle and the inferior longitudinal muscle. It originates from the base of the tongue and extends vertically upwards to insert into the tongue's mucous membrane.

Function

The vertical muscle of the tongue aids in the movement and flexibility of the tongue. It allows the tongue to flatten and widen, which is essential for speech, swallowing, and the manipulation of food within the mouth.

Clinical significance

Damage to the vertical muscle can result in difficulty with speech and swallowing. This can occur due to trauma, surgery, or neurological conditions such as stroke or Parkinson's disease.

See also

• Intrinsic muscles of the tongue
• Extrinsic muscles of the tongue