Brainstem-Medulla, motor and sensory cortex area damages all result in different signs and symptoms of swallowing problems or swallowing disorders. Causes of such disorder could be due to lesions, infarcts, head injuries, trauma, degenerative changes, neurological changes. etc., in physical and physiological functions.
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The tongue is primarily controlled by the hypoglossal nerve (cranial nerve XII), which originates in the brainstem. The specific area of the brain that controls tongue movements is the hypoglossal nucleus, located in the medulla oblongata of the brainstem.
The medulla oblongata is a part of the brain located in the lower portion of the brain stem. It is the origin of cranial nerves nine through 12. These nerves control neck, shoulder and tongue movement, swallowing, speech, and the gag reflex.
The tongue is primarily controlled by both sides of the brain, with the left hemisphere typically responsible for language production and the right hemisphere supporting spatial and emotional aspects of speech. The motor cortex, located in the frontal lobe of each hemisphere, plays a key role in controlling the movement of the tongue muscles.
The right side of the brain controls the left side of the body, including functions such as spatial awareness, creativity, and emotional processing.
The part of the brain responsible for coordinating muscle movements and maintaining balance is called the cerebellum.
The thalamus is the part of the brain that relays and receives information from the face, eyes, ears, nose, and tongue. It acts as a sensory relay station, directing sensory information to the appropriate areas of the brain for processing.
The area of the tongue that controls the taste and sensation of bitterness is located primarily in the back of the tongue, close to the uvula and going back towards the throat. The area of the tongue that controls the taste of sourness is located in the lateral-back of the tongue. The area that controls the sensation of saltiness is located on the lateral front of the tongue, and the part of the tongue that controls the sensation of sweetness is on the tip of the tongue.