Foramen cecum of tongue - Oral cavity - Tongue - e-Anatomy
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Foramen cecum of tongue

Foramen caecum linguae

  • Latin eponym: Foramen Morgagnii
  • Eponym: Foramen of Morgagni; Morand's foramen
  • Related terms: Foramen caecum of tongue

Definition

Muhammad A. Javaid

The foramen cecum is a small midline pit located at the apex of the terminal sulcus on the dorsal surface of the tongue. It marks the embryological site of origin of the thyroglossal duct, from which the thyroid gland begins its descent during development.

Anatomically, foramen cecum lies at the junction between the anterior two-thirds and posterior one-third of the tongue. Remnants of the thyroglossal duct may persist and give rise to thyroglossal cysts, fistulas, or ectopic thyroid tissue along the line of thyroid descent.

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References

  • Dotiwala AK, Samra NS. Anatomy, Head and Neck, Tongue. [Updated 2023 Aug 21]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2026 Jan. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK507782/

  • Standring, S. (2015) Grays Anatomy: The Anatomical Basis of Clinical Practice. 41st edn. London: Churchill Livingstone Elsevier. Chapter 31, Oral cavity.

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