462 THE TONGUE. 



It also yields to the circumflexi or tensores, which stretch it so 

 as to do away its arched appearance. 



It is therefore very properly called the Palatum Molle, or 

 soft palate. It is also frequently called the Velum Pendulum 

 Palati, from the position which it assumes. 



The Tongue, 



which is a very important part of this structure, is retained in 

 its position and connected with the parts adjoining it, by the 

 following arrangements. 



The os hyoides, which, as its name imports, resembles the 

 Greek letter v, or half an oval, is situated rather below the 

 angles of the lower jaw, in the middle of the upper part of the 

 neck. It is retained in its position by the sterno-hyoidei 

 muscles, which connect it to the upper part of the sternum, by 

 the coraco, or omo-hyoidei, which pass to it obliquely from the 

 scapula ; by the thyro-hyoidei, which pass to it directly 

 upward from the thyroid cartilage, all of which connect it to 

 parts below. To these should be added the stylo-hyoidei, which 

 pass to it obliquely from behind and rather from above : the 

 mylo-hyoidei, which come rather anteriorly from the lateral 

 parts of the lower jaw; and the genio-hyoidei, which arises 

 from a situation directly anterior and superior to the chin. 

 When these muscles are at rest, the situation of the os hyoides 

 is, as above described, below the angles of the lower jaw : 

 when those, in one particular direction act, while the others 

 are passive, the bone may be moved upwards or downwards, 

 backwards or forwards, or to either side. This bone may be 

 considered as the basis of the tongue ; for the posterior extrem- 

 ity of that organ is attached to it, and of course the move- 

 ments of the bone must have an immediate effect upon those of 

 the tongue. 



The tongue is a flat body of an oval figure, but subject to 

 considerable changes of form. 



The posterior extremity, connected to the os hyoides, is com- 

 monly called its base ; the anterior extremity, which, when the 

 tongue is quiescent, is rather more acute, is called its apex. 



The lower surface of the tongue is connected with a number 



