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The hypoglossal nerve is a cranial nerve that controls the muscles of the tongue. Learn about its structure, function, clinical significance, and history from this comprehensive article.
1 day ago · Learn about the hypoglossal nerve, the twelfth cranial nerve that innervates the muscles of the tongue. Find out its course, motor functions, clinical examination and possible palsy causes.
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- Overview
- Function
- Anatomy
- Conditions and Disorders
- Care
- Additional Common Questions
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The hypoglossal nerve enables tongue movement. It controls the hyoglossus, intrinsic, genioglossus and styloglossus muscles. These muscles help you speak, swallow and move substances around in your mouth.
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OverviewFunctionAnatomyConditions and DisordersCareAdditional Common Questions
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What is the function of cranial nerve 12?
The hypoglossal nerve controls muscles that move the tongue, enabling you to: Make noises with your mouth, like clicking sounds. Move substances around in your mouth. Speak. Swallow. Advertisement
Which muscles do the hypoglossal nerve control?
Cranial nerve 12 controls the: Genioglossus muscles, which push the tongue forward. Hyoglossus muscles that pull the tongue back and flatten it. Intrinsic muscles that change the tongue’s shape, including curving and narrowing. Styloglossus muscles, which move the tongue up and down.
What is the anatomy of the 12th cranial nerve?
The hypoglossal nerve starts in the base of the brain near the top of the spinal cord (brain stem). Before reaching the tongue, it: Travels down the spinal cord to the cervical plexus. This complex nerve network enables sensation and movement in the neck and trunk. Runs down the neck past important blood vessels (carotid artery and jugular vein). Extends past the back of your throat until it reaches the floor of your mouth. Branches off to connect with muscles that control different types of tongue movement. Advertisement
What conditions affect hypoglossal nerve function?
Conditions affecting this nerve include: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS): In advanced cases, the hypoglossal nerve might not be able to communicate with the brain. Encephalitis: Inflammation can cause the brain stem to press on the hypoglossal nerve. Head and neck cancer: Treatments can disrupt nearby tissue, including the hypoglossal nerve. Sleep apnea: The hypoglossal nerve controls muscles in the back of your throat. If they relax too much during sleep, your tongue can slide out of place, blocking the airway. Stroke: A lack of blood flow can affect the brain’s ability to communicate with the hypoglossal nerve. Trauma: Serious accidents like a stabbing can sever the hypoglossal nerve.
How can I prevent issues with cranial nerve 12?
Hypoglossal nerve issues can impact your ability to eat, speak or swallow. Some causes, like trauma and surgical complications, can be difficult to avoid. Seeing an experienced surgeon if you need a mouth or throat procedure may lower your risk. Taking care of yourself can help you avoid disruption to hypoglossal nerve function. These efforts include: Following care instructions to slow the progression of chronic conditions such as ALS. Living a healthy lifestyle to prevent stroke. Maintaining a healthy weight to avoid sleep apnea or prevent it from worsening. Quitting smoking if you use tobacco and limiting alcohol consumption. Both of these prevent head and neck cancer.
When should I call a healthcare provider about problems with my hypoglossal nerve?
Call your healthcare provider if you experience issues on one or both sides of your tongue. These may include: Difficulty speaking (aphasia) or swallowing (dysphagia). Lack of sensation. Muscle weakness. Pain or a burning sensation. Uncoordinated movement.
A note from Cleveland Clinic
The hypoglossal nerve helps you move your tongue. It enables you to speak, swallow and push substances around in your mouth. Conditions affecting hypoglossal nerve function include stroke, cancer and ALS. You can protect cranial nerve 12 from some of these conditions by living a healthy lifestyle. Medically Reviewed Last reviewed by a Cleveland Clinic medical professional on 06/04/2021. Learn more about our editorial process.
Learn about the hypoglossal nerve, a motor nerve that controls tongue movement and speech. Find out what conditions can affect it and how to prevent or treat damage.
May 20, 2024 · The hypoglossal nerve is purely motor nerve, which innervates extrinsic tongue muscles and geniohyoid muscle. It originates from it motor nucleus found in the ventral medulla oblongata. This article will discuss the anatomy and function of the hypoglossal nerve. Contents. Origin. Course and relations. Branches. Clinical aspects. Sources. + Show all
- Content Manager
- 10 min
- Hypoglossal nucleus in medulla oblongata
Nov 7, 2022 · The hypoglossal nerve is the 12th cranial nerve (CN XII). It is mainly an efferent nerve for the tongue musculature. The nerve originates from the medulla and travels caudally and dorsally to the tongue (see Image. The Hypoglossal Nerve). Go to: Structure and Function.
- Seung Y. Kim, Imama A. Naqvi
- St. Luke's Hospital, Temple University
- 2018
- 2022/11/07
Oct 21, 2024 · Learn about the hypoglossal nerve, the 12th cranial nerve that controls your tongue movements. Find out how damage to this nerve can affect your speech, chewing, and swallowing, and what conditions can cause nerve damage.
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Learn about the hypoglossal nerve, a motor nerve that controls the muscles of the tongue. Find out what can go wrong with this nerve and how to recognize the signs and symptoms of hypoglossal nerve disorders.