Intrinsic Muscles of the Tongue

Last updated: Jul 8th, 2025

The intrinsic muscles of the tongue are a block of muscles that are for fine movements. The tongue is one of the most versatile organs in the human body. Its extensive complement of muscles allows a range of complex movements for chewing, sucking and swallowing, as well as the vital function of making sounds to produce speech. Most of the tongue consists of intimately interlaced muscles, arranged as paired blocks so that the left and right sides have independent sets of muscles. The two halves are divided by a fibrous septum running down the middle, which is seen externally as a central groove, or medial furrow, running lengthwise along the tongue.