Genioglossus muscle
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Genioglossus
Extrinsic muscles of the tongue. Left side.
Latin	musculus genioglossus
Gray's	subject #242 1129
Origin	Superior part of mental spine of mandible (symphysis menti)
Insertion	Dorsum of tongue and body of hyoid
Artery	Lingual artery
Nerve	Hypoglossal nerve (CN XII)
Action	Complex - Inferior fibers protrude the tongue, middle fibers depress the tongue, and its superior fibers draw the tip back and down
Dorlands /Elsevier	m_22/12549183

The genioglossus is a muscle of the human body which runs from the chin to the tongue.

Structure

Genioglossus is the fan-shaped extrinsic tongue muscle that forms the majority of the body of the tongue. Its origin is the mental spine of the mandible and its insertions are the hyoid bone and the dorsum of the tongue. Innervated by the hypoglossal nerve (CN XII), it depresses and protrudes the tongue.

Clinical relevance

A relaxation of the genioglossus and geniohyoideus muscles, especially during REM sleep, is implicated in Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA.)^[1]

Peripheral damage to the hypoglossal nerve can result in deviation of the tongue to the damaged side.

Etymology

The name derives from Greek roots: "Geneion" for chin, and "glossa" for tongue.

Additional images

Mandible. Inner surface. Side view.

The internal carotid and vertebral arteries. Right side.

Hypoglossal nerve, cervical plexus, and their branches.

Sagittal section of nose, mouth, pharynx, and larynx.

References

1. ^ Herder et al. (2004) "Risks of general anaesthesia in people with obstructive sleep apnoea" British Medical Journal 329 (7472):955-959

External links

• LUC geng
• SUNY Figs 34:02-01
• Genioglossus+muscle at eMedicine Dictionary
• Roche Lexicon - illustrated navigator, at Elsevier 25420.000-1
• Frontal section

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