Which structure anchors the tongue to the floor of the mouth?

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Multiple Choice

Which structure anchors the tongue to the floor of the mouth?

The lingual frenulum is the structure that anchors the tongue to the floor of the mouth. It’s a thin fold of mucous membrane that runs from the underside of the tongue to the floor, securing the tongue in place and limiting excessive backward movement. This is different from the tongue muscles—like the genioglossus, which moves the tongue (protrudes and depresses it), and the hyoglossus, which helps depress and retract the tongue—or from the mylohyoid, which helps form and elevate the floor of the mouth during swallowing. A short lingual frenulum can cause restricted tongue movement, a condition known as ankyloglossia.

The lingual frenulum is the structure that anchors the tongue to the floor of the mouth. It’s a thin fold of mucous membrane that runs from the underside of the tongue to the floor, securing the tongue in place and limiting excessive backward movement. This is different from the tongue muscles—like the genioglossus, which moves the tongue (protrudes and depresses it), and the hyoglossus, which helps depress and retract the tongue—or from the mylohyoid, which helps form and elevate the floor of the mouth during swallowing. A short lingual frenulum can cause restricted tongue movement, a condition known as ankyloglossia.

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