The tongue; It might be small, and some might think insignificant, but our tongue packs a punch, so we should look after it.
A muscular hydrostat, the tongue forms the floor of the mouth, our buccal or oral cavity. Our tongue is divided into two parts; the oral part at the front, two thirds, the pharyngeal area one third at the back. We have a left and right side, the lingual septum you see down the middle of the tongue. The groove on the top (dorsal) is called the median sulcus. The dorsal side is covered with taste buds. On the underside of the tongue is the frenulum; this tethers the tongue to the floor of the mouth. Either side of the frenulum is the sublingual caruncles. These are where the submandibular salivary glands drain. The tongue is highly vascular and has a rich blood supply from the lingual artery. The tongue comprises four intrinsic muscles; these alter the shape, and four paired extrinsic muscles; change the position. (For more information see – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK507782/)
We know the tongue plays essential roles in swallowing, breathing, speaking and chewing. The tongue is a muscle and will adapt to age, lack of use or misuse like any other muscle in the body. Although we can look at the differing roles the muscles and force or strength of the musculature of the tongue play in respiration, speaking and eating, they work as a team. The tone, therefore, needs to be balanced.
The tongue position influences the whole body. As Bordoni mentions (The anatomical relationships of the tongue with the body system) is part of the anatomical structures that cover the occipitocervical area. Relationships with TMJ, the anterior neck, all layers of cervical fascia and muscles of mastication. If the tongue is positioned against the hard palate, often seen when stressed or concentrating, the sympathetic nervous system increases; if you place the tongue at the soft palate, then the parasympathetic activity increases. Both might be useful. However, if the tongue position changes from its normal resting position, it can have a knock-on effect on any of the structures mentioned or vice versa.
How about tongue position and your lower limb? In a study in 2013, Luca Paola Ardigo and their team investigated this and found that having the tongue extended up to the palatine spot significantly increased knee flexion torque!
Try this – Notice where your tongue is sitting. First, take the time to notice your breath over a minute. Next, notice your pelvic floor, neck, jaw, and even your shoulders and spine. Now, sit tip of tongue lightly at the hard palate and draw the tongue to rest against the soft palate, aiming to keep a sense of the back of the teeth rather than just pushing the tongue up. Do you find your pelvic floor reacting to this? What do you notice behind behind your sternum? Place your hand on your sternum, do you feel anything? If you have the time maintain the new tongue position as you breathe for another minute. Does your breath feel any different? Faster, slower, deep or shallow. Do you feel taller or shorter?
Does a different tongue position work for you when you move from sitting to standing?