Ta'lim innovatsiyasi va integratsiyasi
49-son_1-to’plam_Iyul -2025
221
ISSN:3030-3621
PHYSIOLOGY OF TONGUE MOVEMENT AND ITS
NEUROPHYSIOLOGICAL BASIS IN SPEECH
Aliyeva Gavharoy Abdumutalipovna
Fergana Region CAMU International Medical University
Assistant Lecturer of Physiology
Abstract:
The tongue plays a pivotal role in articulation and speech production,
enabling complex movements necessary for phoneme formation and intelligible
communication. This article reviews the physiological mechanisms governing tongue
movements and their neurophysiological control during speech. Emphasis is placed on
the muscular anatomy of the tongue, neural pathways involved in motor coordination,
and integration within central nervous system structures. Understanding these
processes is essential for diagnosing and treating speech disorders arising from
neurological impairments.
Keywords:
tongue movement, speech production, neurophysiology, motor
control, articulation, cranial nerves
Speech production is a highly coordinated motor activity involving multiple
articulators, among which the tongue is arguably the most versatile and essential. The
tongue’s capacity for rapid, precise, and diverse movements enables the production of
a wide range of speech sounds. These movements are controlled by intrinsic and
extrinsic muscles innervated by several cranial nerves.
The tongue’s unique muscular structure allows for complex and rapid
movements that are essential for articulation. These movements are intricately
coordinated by the central nervous system (CNS), involving multiple brain regions and
neural pathways. Understanding the physiology behind tongue movement provides
insight into how speech sounds are produced and how disorders affecting tongue
mobility can impair communication.
Despite its importance, the tongue’s motor control mechanisms are not fully
understood, particularly how sensory feedback and cortical inputs integrate to produce
smooth and precise speech. This study aims to review current knowledge of the
tongue’s muscular anatomy and neurophysiological control during speech production.
The neurophysiological control of tongue movement involves integration across
cortical, subcortical, and brainstem structures. This intricate control system ensures the
smooth execution of articulatory gestures necessary for fluent speech. This paper aims
to elucidate the physiology of tongue movements and their neurophysiological basis
within the context of speech production.
Ta'lim innovatsiyasi va integratsiyasi
49-son_1-to’plam_Iyul -2025
222
ISSN:3030-3621
This study employs a comprehensive literature review approach. Peer-reviewed
journal articles, neurophysiological textbooks, and clinical studies related to tongue
anatomy, motor control, and speech production were systematically searched using
academic databases such as PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar.
Key search terms included “tongue movement,” “speech neurophysiology,”
“cranial nerves and speech,” and “motor control of articulation.” Selection criteria
focused on studies involving healthy adults, neuroimaging studies highlighting motor
cortex activation during speech, and clinical reports on dysarthria and other motor
speech disorders.
Additionally, relevant neuroanatomical data were extracted from standard
anatomy texts to elucidate the muscular structure and neural innervation of the tongue.
The tongue consists of
intrinsic muscles
(superior longitudinal, inferior
longitudinal, transverse, and vertical muscles) that shape the tongue, and
extrinsic
muscles
(genioglossus, hyoglossus, styloglossus, and palatoglossus) that position it
within the oral cavity.
Intrinsic muscles
modify the tongue’s shape for articulation (e.g., curling,
flattening).
Extrinsic muscles
move the tongue forward, backward, upward, and downward.
These muscles receive motor innervation primarily from the
hypoglossal nerve
(cranial nerve XII)
, except for the palatoglossus, which is innervated by the
vagus
nerve (cranial nerve X)
.
Neurophysiological Control of Tongue Movement
Tongue movement during speech is governed by a complex network involving:
Primary motor cortex (precentral gyrus):
initiates voluntary tongue
movements.
Premotor and supplementary motor areas:
plan and sequence motor actions.
Basal ganglia and cerebellum:
coordinate movement timing and smoothness.
Brainstem nuclei (hypoglossal nucleus):
relay motor commands to tongue
muscles.
Sensory feedback loops:
via the trigeminal (CN V), facial (CN VII),
glossopharyngeal (CN IX), and vagus (CN X) nerves provide proprioceptive and
tactile information necessary for fine control.
Neurophysiological studies indicate that tongue motor control involves feedforward
and feedback mechanisms enabling real-time adjustments during speech.
Role of Tongue Movement in Speech Production
Precise tongue positioning and shaping are critical for articulating consonants and
vowels. For example:
Alveolar sounds
like /t/, /d/, and /n/ require the tongue tip to contact the alveolar
ridge.
Ta'lim innovatsiyasi va integratsiyasi
49-son_1-to’plam_Iyul -2025
223
ISSN:3030-3621
Velar sounds
like /k/ and /g/ involve the dorsum of the tongue contacting the
soft palate.
Vowels depend on tongue height and advancement controlled by intrinsic and
extrinsic muscles.
Impairments in tongue motor control due to neurological disorders (e.g., stroke,
Parkinson’s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) often result in dysarthria,
characterized by slurred or imprecise speech.
The physiology and neurophysiology of tongue movement form the foundation of
articulatory speech production. A detailed understanding of the muscular anatomy and
neural control pathways is crucial for clinicians and researchers working in speech-
language pathology and neurology. Advances in neuroimaging and neurophysiological
techniques continue to enhance our knowledge, aiding in the diagnosis and
rehabilitation of speech disorders.
References
1.
Kent, R. D., & Kent, J. F. (2000).
The Physiology and Neurobiology of Speech
Production
. In R. Chapey (Ed.),
Language Intervention Strategies in Aphasia
and Related Neurogenic Communication Disorders
(4th ed., pp. 41-60).
Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
2.
Perkell, J. S. (2012).
Motor control of speech
. In
The Handbook of Clinical
Neurology
(Vol. 103, pp. 245-266). Elsevier.
3.
Hickok, G., & Poeppel, D. (2007).
The cortical organization of speech
processing
. Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 8(5), 393-402.
4.
Hiiemae, K. M., & Palmer, J. B. (2003).
Tongue movements in feeding and
speech
. Critical Reviews in Oral Biology & Medicine, 14(6), 413-429.
5.
Rosenbek, J. C., & LaPointe, L. L. (1985).
The anatomy and physiology of
speech production
. In H. W. Fields & J. R. Martin (Eds.),
Speech and Language
Disorders
. Harper & Row.
