The lingual artery is responsible for supplying blood to the tongue. It passes between the lower muscles of the tongue in a strongly serpentine manner. Colloquially, it is called the lingual artery. The lingual artery comes from the external aorta as a second main trunk next to the facial artery. Along its path, the sublingual artery branches off, ending in the floor of the oral cavity. In contrast, the lingual artery extends into the tip of the tongue. It is designed to help carry out all the movements of the tongue.
What is the lingual artery?
Because of its proximity to the heart, it is one of the arteries of the elastic type. These ensure the continuous circulation of blood. In addition to the lingual artery, these vessels include the aorta (main artery). Medium and smaller arteries of the great circulation form the further group of muscular arteries. They are responsible for maintaining blood pressure. The main function of the arteries is to move blood away from the heart. In the process, the blood flows on from the large arteries into very small arteries (arterioles), which in turn maintain a connection with the hair vessels (capillaries). The arteries close to the heart with their elasticity withstand the pressure of the heart’s pumping action. If this pressure drops temporarily, they compensate for this by contracting. The veins, for example, which pump blood toward the heart, cannot.
Anatomy and structure
Like all other arteries and, in principle, veins, the lingual artery consists of three layers of tissue. The inner layer is the tunica (tunica intima). It manages the exchange of substances and gases between the blood flowing through it and the vessel wall. The tunica is composed of flat cells resting on a basement membrane. It also consists of connective tissue, which provides elastic properties. The muscle contractions take place in the middle layer, the media (tunica media). This adapts the respective width of the vessel to the specific conditions dictated by pulse rate and blood pressure. The media is formed by smooth muscle cells as well as elastic fibers, which are arranged in a ring shape. The adventitia (tunis externa) then closes the lingual artery to the outside. In its elastic composition, it resembles the media. However, it also has a supply function for nerves and blood vessels. Its structure also enables anchorage with surrounding vessels. The arteries can establish connections to the veins with the help of the capillaries. Unlike the lingual artery, for example, a capillary is formed by only a thin layer of cells. This so-called endothelium can separate blood and tissue from each other, but is permeable on the other hand. It thus ensures the best possible exchange of substances contained in the blood and the surrounding tissue layers. The walls of the capillaries contain a basement membrane and other stabilizing cells for support. The capillaries also connect to larger veins via very small and thin venules. Veins are characterized by thinner walls than arteries. They also have a greater stretching capacity.
Function and tasks
What the lingual artery is capable of is illustrated by the various tasks and functions of the human tongue. This elongated muscular body, surrounded by mucous membranes, is essentially responsible for chewing, sucking, swallowing, tasting, and speaking. The tongue is divided into tip, body and root. The upper surface is called the dorsum of the tongue and has a triangular depression in the posterior part, the blind hole. Several mucous glands are located there. A salivary gland is found in the area of the tip of the tongue. The underside is connected to the floor of the palate by means of the lingual frenulum in such a way that only the tip of the tongue and the lateral margins are free to move. The root, as the rearmost and thickest part of the tongue, is connected to the larynx by the hyoid bone. Mainly made up of countless muscle fibers, the tongue is an intense network of nerves and blood vessels. This is what makes it so very mobile.
Diseases
Of particular importance in this regard is the arterial supply to the tongue muscles. The internal muscles in the body of the tongue are responsible for shortening, widening, lengthening, and narrowing the tongue, as well as lifting and extending the tip of the tongue. The external muscles connect the tongue to the surrounding organ and tissue structures.This muscle group can, for example, cause the tongue to be pulled forward and backward and the pharynx to be constricted. The functions of the lingual artery also extend to supplying blood to the relatively thick mucous membrane of the tongue. It is occupied by very many lingual papillae, which give the tongue its velvety surface. A special group of papillae has taste buds, which in turn are connected to the taste nerves. Other tongue papillae provide partial sensation of touch and temperature. Between the various types of lingual papillae are depressions lined with a fine biofilm. This thin layer is formed by food residues and saliva. It forms the typical whitish coating on the top of the tongue. A good blood circulation by means of the tongue artery is also very important so that the ingested food can be properly moved in the mouth, chewed through and mixed with saliva. The tongue, together with the cheek muscles, pushes the food between the chewing surfaces of the teeth. It then transports the food into the throat. The tongue also has important roles in cleaning the lips, palate, and teeth.
