Root of tongue

The root of tongue is the non-mobile anatomical part of the tongue contained in the oral cavity. 

The term root of tongue should not be confused with base of tongue, which is part of the oropharynx and is the posterior third of the tongue, posterior to the circumvallate papillae. 

Terminology

Terminology pertaining to the tongue can be confusing with terms such as mobile tongue, rootbase of tongue, base,root of tongue, and floor of mouth being used in different ways ^1,2. Here is a glossary of terms, along which space it belongs.

• mobile tongue: part of oral cavity
  • anterior two-thirds, anterior to the circumvallate papillae
  • root of tongue: part of oral cavity
  • base of tongue: part of oropharynx
  • floor of mouth: part of oral cavity

  Anatomy

  The

• base of tongue
  • posterior one-third, posterior to the circumvallate papillae 
  • part of oropharynx
• root of tongue
  • region deep to the mobile tongue is often divided into:and anterior to the base of the tongue
  • mobile tongue: part of oral cavity
• floor of mouth
  • U- shaped mylohyoid muscle under the geniohyoid muscles
  • part of oral cavity

Anatomy

The root of tongue includes the lingual septum and bilateral genioglossus and geniohyoid muscles (genioglossus-geniohyoid complex) ^1,2.

• anterior border: mandible
• lateral borders: sublingual space
• inferior border: U- shaped mylohyoid muscle under the geniohyoid muscles, the floor of mouth
• posterior border: base of tongue: part of oropharynx

​Squamous cell carcinoma subsites

In squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) staging, the ...