Hypoglossal nerve (CN XII)
Learning objectives
On completing this study unit, you will be able to:
- Describe the origin of the hypoglossal nerve and its associated nuclei.
- Understand the course of the hypoglossal nerve.
- Identify the branches of the hypoglossal nerve and their supply areas.
Watch video
The hypoglossal nerve, is primarily a motor nerve which arises as a series of rootlets from the lateral surface of the medulla oblongata, between the pyramid and olive.
It supplies motor innervation (GSE) to the extrinsic muscles of the tongue with the exception of palatoglossus (i.e. genioglossus, hyoglossus and styloglossus muscles) as well as all of the intrinsic muscles of the tongue (superior longitudinal muscle of tongue, inferior longitudinal muscle of tongue, transverse muscle of tongue and vertical muscle of tongue).
Find out more about the pathway, branches and function of the hypoglossal nerve by watching the video below!
Take a quiz
Put your knowledge on the hypoglossal nerve to the test with the quiz below.
Looking for a broader array of questions on the cranial nerves? Try out our fully customizable quiz below.
Browse atlas
:watermark(/images/watermark_5000_10percent.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/overview_image/247/dukDaWxDKutyuspe2aRASQ_hypoglossal-nerve_english.jpg){kind=logo}
Take a look at our atlas gallery to further review the course, distribution and supply of the hypoglossal nerve in more detail.
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/nervus-hypoglossus-7/QacsOlhwTcyl5Ebd40uLYA_N._hypoglossus_01.png "Hypoglossal nerve (Nervus hypoglossus); Image: Paul Kim"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/nucleus-nervi-hypoglossi-2/MxxQ7V2TuRGaaeUrFnmNTg_Nucleus_n._hypoglossi_01.png "Nucleus of hypoglossal nerve (Nucleus nervi hypoglossi); Image: Paul Kim"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/rami-ventrales-nervi-spinales-c1-c3/GLQDc3UiOwEmiYlaC4VZNQ_Rr._ventrales_nn._spinalium_C1_C2_C3_m01.png "Anterior rami of spinal nerves C1-C3 (Rami anteriores nervorum spinalium C1-C3); Image: Paul Kim"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/ansa-cervicalis-3/aUhxnXvwqMeVmDBbjMgOiA_Ansa_cervicale_01.png "Ansa cervicalis; Image: Paul Kim"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/radix-superior-ansae-cervicalis/udjHAmRVUL5MJ0EKvX8gg_Radix_superior_ansae_cervialis_m01.png "Superior root of ansa cervicalis (Radix superior ansae cervicalis); Image: Paul Kim"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/radix-inferior-ansae-cervicalis/GGy0LX99RLJgWyYIbsRcQ_Radix_inferior_ansae_cerviaclis_m01.png "Inferior root of ansa cervicalis (Radix inferior ansae cervicalis); Image: Paul Kim"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/nerve-to-geniohyoid-muscle/HrbqvOxcsyCacbhryd0Ag_To_gniohyoid.png "Geniohyoid branch of hypoglossal nerve (Ramus geniohyoideus nervi hypoglossi); Image: Paul Kim"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/nerve-to-thyrohyoid-muscle/MvPf8SvtOXjMuZM9Lg2XUA_to_thyrohyoid_muscle.png "Thyrohyoid branch of hypoglossal nerve (Ramus thyrohyoideus nervi hypoglossi); Image: Paul Kim"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/lingua-2/vvy00Nnz6kAo3lAStyg8JA_Lingua_01.png "Tongue (Lingua); Image: Paul Kim"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/musculus-genioglossus-2/JJTMQFGMdUYZD7ZC2EkXA_T951_hypoglossal_nerve.png "Genioglossus muscle (Musculus genioglossus); Image: Paul Kim"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/musculus-hyoglossus-2/iyW2jApKA40yq21rUB4sA_M._hypoglossus_01.png "Hyoglossus muscle (Musculus hyoglossus); Image: Paul Kim"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/musculus-styloglossus-2/blZjve20i4HCqwjyAlI7A_2.png "Styloglossus muscle (Musculus styloglossus); Image: Paul Kim"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/palatoglossus-muscle/OvGHTJehTca2hljx3ic74Q_Palatoglossus_muscle_02.png "Palatoglossus muscle (Musculus palatoglossus); Image: Begoña Rodriguez"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/superior-longitudinal-muscle-of-tongue/YfgI0bcFhNRFSyTOX0xwA_Superior_longitudinal_muscle_of_tongue_02.png "Superior longitudinal muscle of tongue (Musculus longitudinalis superior linguae); Image: Begoña Rodriguez"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/inferior-longitudinal-muscle-of-tongue/dPyHrcuLCUDTVRzh0RPg_Inferior_longitudinal_muscle_of_tongue_02.png "Inferior longitudinal muscle of tongue (Musculus longitudinalis inferior linguae); Image: Begoña Rodriguez"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/vertical-muscle-of-tongue/2eBDbK5SsioJfLpesXnrcQ_Vertical_muscle_of_tongue_02.png "Vertical muscle of tongue (Musculus verticalis linguae); Image: Begoña Rodriguez"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/transverse-muscle-of-tongue/fexKOuYZ3B3oAutSlYm7w_Transverse_muscle_of_tongue_02.png "Transverse muscle of tongue (Musculus transversus linguae); Image: Begoña Rodriguez"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/musculus-omohyoideus-2/44CPeK20bcrfBhDqoEXBQ_M._omohyoidei_01.png "Omohyoid muscle (Musculus omohyoideus); Image: Paul Kim"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/musculus-sternohyoideus-2/FvNgjgvRQFBz1oNqpkXFQ_M._sternohyoideus_01.png "Sternohyoid muscle (Musculus sternohyoideus); Image: Paul Kim"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/geniohyoid-muscle-1/xDvPFc7ujNcqrOvKTPqiyQ_T951_hypoglossal_nerve.png "Geniohyoid muscle (Musculus geniohyoideus); Image: Paul Kim"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/musculus-thyrohyoideus-2/iRr1L7BE4qxq4Nizb7R9zA_M._thyrohyoideus_01.png "Thyrohyoid muscle (Musculus thyrohyoideus); Image: Paul Kim"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/musculus-sternothyroideus-2/3xlqnMDnuax9OJMVzc41Og_M._sternothyroideus_01.png "Sternothyroid muscle (Musculus sternothyroideus); Image: Paul Kim"){kind=logo}
Summary
| Structure and features |
Fibers: General somatic efferent (GSE) Origin: Medulla oblongata (between pyramid and olive) Exits skull: Hypoglossal canal Associated nuclei: Nucleus of hypoglossal nerve |
| Branches | Lingual branches of hypoglossal nerve Note that whilst the following branches are given off by the hypoglossal nerve, their fibers originate from the cervical plexus (C1-2): Meningeal branch Superior root of ansa cervicalis Thyrohyoid branch Geniohyoid branch |
| Function |
Motor innervation: Extrinsic muscles of the tongue: genioglossus, hyoglossus and styloglossus Intrinsic muscles of the tongue: superior longitudinal lingual, inferior longitudinal lingual, transversus linguae and verticalis linguae muscle |
Well done!
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