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Superior longitudinal muscle of tongue

The superior longitudinal muscle of the tongue is a thin, intrinsic muscle situated just beneath the mucous membrane on the dorsal (upper) surface of the tongue. It plays a crucial role in shaping and moving the tongue during speech, mastication, and swallowing. This muscle, along with the other intrinsic muscles, is responsible for the complex movements of the tongue, such as shortening, curling, and elevating its tip and edges.

Synonyms

  • Superior longitudinal lingual muscle

  • Musculus longitudinalis superior linguae

Function

  • Shortens the tongue

  • Elevates the tip and lateral margins of the tongue

  • Assists in tongue retraction and shaping

  • Contributes to articulation in speech and manipulation of food during chewing and swallowing

Origin and Insertion

  • Origin: Submucosal connective tissue and fibrous median septum of the tongue

  • Insertion: Mucous membrane on the dorsum of the tongue and lateral margins

  • Runs longitudinally from the base to the apex, forming the upper layer of the intrinsic tongue musculature

Nerve Supply

  • Motor Innervation: Hypoglossal nerve (Cranial Nerve XII)

Artery Supply

  • Primary Artery: Lingual artery (branch of the external carotid artery)

  • Additional minor contributions: Tonsillar branch of the facial artery, ascending pharyngeal artery

Vein Supply

  • Primary Vein: Lingual vein

  • Drains into the internal jugular vein

MRI Appearance

  • T1-weighted images: The superior longitudinal muscle appears as an intermediate to low signal intensity structure, similar to other tongue muscles

  • T2-weighted images: Normal muscle demonstrates relatively low signal intensity, but increased signal may indicate edema or pathology.

  • STIR sequence: Increased signal intensity (hyperintense) in pathological states such as edema, trauma, or inflammation, otherwise intermediate in normal conditions

CT Appearance

  • Appears as a soft tissue density structure on the dorsal aspect of the tongue

  • No specific differentiation from other intrinsic tongue muscles without contrast

MRI images

superior longitudinal muscle of tongue MRI IMAGE -img-00000-00000