Superior longitudinal lingual muscle
Musculus longitudinalis superior linguae
- Synonym: Superior longitudinal muscle of tongue
- Related terms: Superior longitudinal muscle
Definition
Superior longitudinal lingual muscle | |
Location | Lies just beneath the mucosa on the dorsum of the tongue |
Origin & Insertion | Extends from the submucosa near the epiglottis and median septum to the apex and margins of the tongue |
Innervation | Hypoglossal nerve (cranial nerve XII) |
Action | Shortens the tongue; elevates the apex and sides, producing concavity of the dorsum |
Blood Supply | Branches of the lingual artery |
The superior longitudinal lingual muscle is one of the intrinsic muscles of the tongue. It runs along the length of the tongue and is responsible for shortening the tongue and curling its tip and sides upward—thus enabling refined tongue movements essential for speech articulation, bolus manipulation, and swallowing.
Actions
The superior longitudinal lingual muscle works antagonistically with the inferior longitudinal lingual muscle (which curls the tongue downward).
Assists in precise tongue tip movements for speech and in forming a groove for food manipulation.
Weakness or damage (e.g., hypoglossal nerve lesion) may impair articulation and bolus control.
References
Gray, H. (2016) Gray’s Anatomy: The Anatomical Basis of Clinical Practice. 41st edn. Edited by S. Standring. New York: Elsevier. Chapter 31: Oral Cavity, pp. 511-513.
Dotiwala AK, Samra NS. Anatomy, Head and Neck, Tongue. [Updated 2023 Aug 21]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2025 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK507782/
