Genioglossus

/ˌdʒɛnioʊˈɡlɒsəs/ noun

Definition

A muscle that runs from the inside of the lower jawbone to the underside of the tongue, used in swallowing, speaking, and moving the tongue.

Etymology

From 'genio-' (chin, from Latin 'genium') + 'glossus' (from Greek 'glossa', tongue). This direct translation literally means 'chin-tongue'.

Kelly Says

Your genioglossus muscle is partly why you can stick your tongue out and move it around—it's also the muscle that sometimes gets in the way of your airway during sleep, making it a surprisingly important muscle for modern medicine.

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