ankyloglossia /ang′kilōglos″ē·ə/ [Gk, agkylos, crooked, glossa, tongue] , a severe restriction of tongue movement as a result of fusion or adherence of the tongue to the floor of the mouth. Partial ankyloglossia is caused by a frenum of the tongue that is abnormally short or is attached too close to the tip of the tongue; this condition may be surgically corrected by simple excision. Complete ankyloglossia requires extensive surgical reconstruction of the tongue and the floor of the mouth. Also called tongue-tie.
