HYPOGLOSSAL NERVE

HYPOGLOSSAL NERVE Hypoglossal nerve is the cranial nerve 12 It is mainly a efferent nerve{MOTOR } for the tongue musculature It originates from the medulla and travel caudally and dorsally to the tongue It has several branches which are ; meningeal , descending , thyrothyroid and muscular Muscular branch is considered part of the real hypoglossal nerve originating from the hypoglossal nucleus FUNCTIONS OF THE HYPOGLOSSAL NERVE Descending branch carries information from c1 and then c2 or c3 to innervate neck muscles; Omohyoid , Sternohyoid and Sternothy Thyrothyroid branches innervates the thyrothyroid muscles of the neck Muscular or lingual branch innervates all muscles of the tongue[both intrinsic and extrinsic tongue muscles] except the palatoglossus which receives motor innervations from the vagus nerve Muscular branch also controls most actions of the tongue including; protruding,retracting ,depressing the tongue and changing the tongue shape GROUP 1