Dooley Noted: 10/30/14
The tongue is often considered one muscle. But it is not!
It’s a group of muscles that propel animals – including you. But you may not realize it yet.
The tongue has the following muscles:
1. Genioglossus: the powerful muscle attaching the tongue to the jaw
2. Hyoglossus: the important muscle attaching the tongue to the hyoid bone, which helps keep the airway stabilized
3. Styloglossus: the crucial stabilizing muscle that attaches the tongue to the skull’s temporal bone
4. Palatoglossus: the muscle anchoring the tongue to the soft palate
5. Intrinsic muscles: These transverse, vertical and longitudinal muscles are like paraspinals, giving the tongue immense architectural power.
The tongue is then connected on it’s sides to the pharynx, better known as the upper part of your swallowing tube.
I was surprised when a took a qi gong class years ago, and the instructor noted the following:
“Keep your tongue on the roof of your mouth.”
I didn’t know anatomy like I know it now.
He was trying to help me anchor in major moving parts in my head, so I had a better understanding of where I was in space.
And it worked! I immediately felt more balanced, with a better connection with my core and feet.
If your tongue is on the roof of your mouth, you are connecting palate, pharynx, hyoid, jaw, and skull.
You are stabilizing your airway, so you can breathe, while anchoring your TMJ so it doesn’t deviate. Now, your body is more balanced and can better ambulate.
I told a patient with balance and breathing issues to walk around New York City with her tongue on the roof.
She was shocked at her difficulty in doing so, and amazed that it made her much more balanced.
Give it a try!
As always, it’s your call.
– Dr. Kathy Dooley
