Neurovasculature of the tongue

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The tongue receives both motor and sensory innervation: 

• Motor innervation mainly stems from the hypoglossal nerve (CN XII), which innervates most of the muscles of the tongue. The only exception is the palatoglossus muscle, which is supplied by the pharyngeal plexus, originating from the vagus nerve (CN X).
• Sensory innervation of the tongue consists of general somatic  (touch and temperature) and special visceral (taste) sensory innervation.
  • The posterior third of the tongue and the vallate papillae receive both general and special sensory innervation from the glossopharyngeal nerve (CN IX), more specifically from its lingual branch.
  • The anterior two-thirds of the tongue receives double innervation. General somatic afferent innervation is supplied by the lingual nerve, a branch of the mandibular nerve (CN V3). Meanwhile, the special sensory innervation is supplied by the chorda tympani, a branch of the facial nerve (CN VII). Its fibers are initially carried within the lingual nerve.

The arterial supply of the tongue comes primarily from the lingual artery, a branch of the external carotid artery. The lingual artery gives off 3 branches for the tongue: dorsal lingual artery, deep lingual artery and sublingual artery. These arteries are accompanied by their corresponding veins of the same names, which drain into the vena comitans of hypoglossal nerve and later into the internal jugular vein.

Watch the video below for a comprehensive explanation of the neurovasculature of the tongue.

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Summary