THE LINGUAL REGION. 63 



the hyo-glossi muscles divides into the sublingual and 

 ranine : of these the ranine is the most important; it lies 

 on the under surface of the tongue, external to the genio- 

 hyo-glossi, and on the inner side of the hyo-glossi, stylo- 

 glossi, and sublingual gland. It enters the organ at its 

 base, and runs forwards towards the tip, and in the 

 mouth it lies to the side of the frsenum, and is here cov- 

 ered only by mucous membrane ; thus, in dividing this 

 membrane for tongue-tie, the scissors should be directed 

 downwards and backwards. 



The ranine artery is generally accompanied by two 

 ranine veins, which terminate in the internal and exter- 

 nal jugular and the facial veins (vide Lingual Artery). 



The nerves are very numerous, and are derived from 

 (1) the hypo-glossal or ninth, which is supplied to the 

 extrinsic muscles only it is the motor nerve of the 

 tongue ; (2) the gustatory branch of the inferior maxil- 

 lary division of the fifth, supplies the sides and tip a 

 nerve of special sense : these two nerves freely inosculate ; 



(3) the glosso-pharyngeal, which supplies the circumval- 

 late papillae at its base also a nerve of special sensation ; 



(4) the facial, supplying the linguales, by means of the 

 chorda tympani ; (5) the vagus, sending a few filaments 

 to its base ; and (6) the sympathetic the vaso-motor 

 nerve, accompanying the lingual artery. 



The base of the tongue is in relation with the epiglot- 

 tis, which curves forwards towards it during respiration ; 

 but during deglutition it is drawn backwards and down- 

 wards, thus covering the aperture of the larynx and 

 preventing food from passing into it (vide Larynx). 



The tumors met with beneath the tongue are ranula, 

 salivary concretions, fatty, and bursal. 



