Your Little Brother Just Stuck His Tongue Out at You

Question

Your little brother just stuck his tongue out at you. Which tongue muscle did he use?
A) hyoglossus
B) stylohyoid
C) genioglossus
D) orbicularis oris

Accepted Answer

The genioglossus muscle controls the protrusion and retraction of the tongue, making it the muscle used when sticking out the tongue. The hyoglossus muscle helps to depress the tongue, the stylohyoid muscle elevates the hyoid bone, and the orbicularis oris is responsible for puckering and closing the lips.