Which nerve provides motor innervation to the intrinsic muscles of the tongue?

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Intrinsic tongue muscles shape the tongue, changing its contour rather than its position. The motor control for these muscles comes from the hypoglossal nerve, which travels from the brainstem through the hypoglossal canal to reach the tongue and supply all intrinsic muscles and most extrinsic tongue muscles (except palatoglossus, which is supplied by the vagus). Sensory roles for the tongue are served by other nerves: the lingual nerve provides general sensation to the anterior two-thirds, with taste carried by the chorda tympani; the glossopharyngeal nerve handles the posterior third's taste and sensation; and the vagus supplies the palatoglossus. So, the nerve that provides motor innervation to the intrinsic tongue muscles is the hypoglossal nerve. If damaged, protruding the tongue would deviate toward the side of the lesion due to weakness of the genioglossus.