Muscles of the Tongue

• Two basic groups of muscles make up the inside (intrinsic) and outside (extrinsic) of our tongue. The intrinsic muscles run from top to bottom, side to side or lengthwise within the tongue, and are the muscles that we use to flatten, round or curl our tongue. The extrinsic muscles are the muscles that we use to move our tongue--stick it out, lift it and wiggle it from side to side.
  
  

Attachment of the Tongue

• The extrinsic muscles of our tongue also attach it to our skull and anchor it in our throat. The styloglossus muscle attaches our tongue (glossus) to a small bony projection (the styloid process) at the base of our skull below the ear. The genioglossus muscle attaches our tongue to the jaw (genio = chin) and the hyoglossus muscle attaches our tongue to the hyoid bone--an independent bone in our neck that serves as an anchor point for many muscles of the neck, chin and tongue. The hyoid bone is also anchored to the jaw and the base of the skull below the ear. The palatoglossus and pharyngoglossus muscles attach the tongue to the roof of the mouth (palate) and the throat (pharynx). A small strip of connective tissue (the frenum) anchors the tongue to the floor of the mouth.
  
  

Nerves and Taste Buds of the Tongue

• The touch sensors and taste buds of the tongue are nervous structures that connect to the glossopharyngeal nerve, which carries signals directly to the brain. Our tongue is covered with large numbers of bumps called papillae--the most abundant type are hair-like (filiform) touch receptors and have no taste buds on them. These filiform papillae are usually shed like hairs but can build up if they aren't brushed away, giving your tongue a whitish coating. The larger papillae that are scattered across our tongue and clustered at the back have taste buds (chemical receptors) on them. Taste buds in different regions of our tongue detect different tastes--sweet, salty, sour or bitter.
  
  

Cancers of the Tongue

• If you have continuous numbness or difficulty swallowing, chewing or moving your tongue, or if you have sores that fail to heal or white patches on the tongue, you should consult your doctor. Oral cancer is easy to detect, and it accounts for up to 5 percent of all cancers. Tobacco and alcohol use (especially when used together) and infection with the human papilloma virus (HPV) are significant risk factors for developing oral cancer.
  
  

Other Medical Disorders of the Tongue

• Two additional disorders of the tongue are somewhat common in the elderly--burning mouth syndrome and bald tongue. Burning mouth syndrome (BMS) results in phantom tastes or a burning sensation on the mouth and tongue, and is believed to be caused by viral infection or by hormonal changes associated with menopause but can also result from the use of certain oral hygiene products. If you notice a burning sensation, you should try changing your toothpaste or mouthwash before seeing your doctor. Bald tongue (atrophic glossitis) is also common in seniors and causes loss of taste buds leading to a burning sensation of the tongue when eating certain foods--the tongue becomes very red and shiny. Bald tongue can be caused by a yeast infection of the tongue (thrush), poor nutrition (lack of vitamin B) or by the tongue rubbing on an ill-fitting set of dentures.