superior longitudinal muscle of tongue superior longitudinal muscle of tongue the superior longitudinal muscle of tongue or superior lingualis is a thin layer of oblique and longitudinal fibers immediately underlying the mucous membrane on the dorsum of the tongue. superior longitudinal muscle of tonguea coronal section of tongue, showing intrinsic muscles.detailsoriginclose to epiglottis, from median fibrous septuminsertionedges of tonguenervehypoglossal nerve (cn xii)actionsretracts tongue with inferior longitudinal muscle, making tongue short and thickidentifierslatinmusculus longitudinalis superior linguaeta98a05.1.04.106ta22122fma46693anatomical terms of muscle structure the superior longitudinal muscle of the tongue is one of the intrinsic muscles of the tongue. it arises from the submucous fibrous layer close to the epiglottis and from the median fibrous septum, and runs forward to the edges of the tongue. nerve supply the superior longitudinal muscle of the tongue is supplied by the hypoglossal nerve (cn xii). function the superior longitudinal muscle of the tongue works with the other intrinsic muscles to move the tongue.