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Genioglossus
The genioglossus is one of the paired extrinsic muscles of the tongue. The genioglossus is the major muscle responsible for protruding (or sticking out) the tongue. Structure Genioglossus is the fan-shaped extrinsic tongue muscle that forms the majority of the body of the tongue. It arises from the mental spine of the mandible and its insertions are the hyoid bone and the bottom of the tongue. The genioglossus is innervated by the hypoglossal nerve, as are all muscles of the tongue except for the palatoglossus. Blood is supplied to the sublingual branch of the lingual artery, a branch of the external carotid artery. The canine genioglossus muscle has been divided into horizontal and oblique compartments. Function The left and right genioglossus muscles protrude the tongue and deviate it towards the opposite side. When acting together, the muscles depress the center of the tongue at its back. Clinical significance Contraction of the genioglossus stabilizes and enlarges the porti ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Mental Spine
A mental spine is a small projection of bone on the posterior aspect of the mandible in the midline. There are usually four mental spines: two superior and two inferior. Collectively they are also known as the ''genial tubercle'',"Genial tubercle." The American Heritage Stedman's Medical Dictionary. Houghton Mifflin Company, 2002. Accessed: 22 Oct. 2007. ''genial apophysis'' and the Latin name ''spinae mentalis''. The inferior mental spines are the points of origin of the geniohyoid muscle,"Genial tubercle." Mosby's Dental Dictionary. Elsevier, Inc., 2004. Accessed: 22 Oct. 2007. one of the suprahyoid muscles, and the superior mental spines are the origin of the genioglossus muscle, one of the muscles of the tongue. Mental spines are important landmarks in clinical practice. Structure Mental spines are found on the posterior aspect of the mandible (lower jaw bone) in the midline. They usually surround spinous mental foramina in the midline. Variation Mental spines may be foun ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |