TITLE:
Three-Dimensional Architecture of the Tongue Muscles by Micro-CT with a Focus on the Longitudinal Muscle
AUTHORS:
Hidekazu Aoyagi, Shin-ichi Iwasaki, Tomoichirou Asami
KEYWORDS:
Tongue Muscles, Micro-CT, Three-Dimensional Architecture, Longitudinal Muscle
JOURNAL NAME:
Surgical Science,
Vol.6 No.5,
May
5,
2015
ABSTRACT: The purpose of this study was to show
the benefit of visualizing a tree-dimensional (3D) image of the tongue’s muscle
structure, which until now has been regarded as fully understood. Until now, no
suitable 3D observation methods have been developed for soft tissue, such as
the tongue, usinghistological magnification. For this purpose, this study
used a micro-computed tomographic method (micro-CT) and image processing after
the fixation, decalcification, and dehydration of a mouse tongue. Results: 3D
rendered images of tongue muscles obtained by micro-CT showed every muscle and
their relationships to each other. The superior longitudinal and the hyoglossus
muscles of the tongue made up one group, while the inferior longitudinal and
the styloglossus muscles of the tongue made up another. The boundary of the two
muscles in each group was difficult to distinguish. On the other hand, what
appear to be newly described muscles were identified. These results indicate
that our micro-CT method is beneficial and that classical knowledge of tongue
muscles derived from two-dimensional (2D) images does not fully describe the
actual complexity of the tongue muscles. In our opinion, 3D rendered images
mixed with raw structure can provide a more in-depth picture of the tongue from
an integrated as well as an analytical perspective.