The motor innervation to the intrinsic muscles of the tongue is via which nerve?

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Multiple Choice

The motor innervation to the intrinsic muscles of the tongue is via which nerve?

Motor control of the intrinsic tongue muscles is provided by a single nerve. These muscles—the ones that alter the tongue’s shape and contour—are all innervated by the hypoglossal nerve. This nerve travels to the tongue to supply both the intrinsic muscles and most of the extrinsic tongue muscles (genioglossus, hyoglossus, and styloglossus). The one exception is the palatoglossus, which is supplied by the vagus nerve through the pharyngeal plexus. So the nerve responsible for the intrinsic tongue muscles is the hypoglossal nerve.

Motor control of the intrinsic tongue muscles is provided by a single nerve. These muscles—the ones that alter the tongue’s shape and contour—are all innervated by the hypoglossal nerve. This nerve travels to the tongue to supply both the intrinsic muscles and most of the extrinsic tongue muscles (genioglossus, hyoglossus, and styloglossus). The one exception is the palatoglossus, which is supplied by the vagus nerve through the pharyngeal plexus. So the nerve responsible for the intrinsic tongue muscles is the hypoglossal nerve.

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