Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsAnatomyFunctionAssociated ConditionsNerve Damage SymptomsDiagnosis and Treatment
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Anatomy
Function
Associated Conditions
Nerve Damage Symptoms
Diagnosis and Treatment
The function of the hypoglossal nerve is to enable your tongue to move. It’s the 12th cranial nerve, and it helps you speak, swallow, and move food and liquid around in your mouth.
Damage to this nerve can affect speech, chewing, and swallowing.The prefixhypois of Greek origin and means “under.“Glossal,also from the Greek, mean “tongue.”
As your nerves run through your body, they split off and send branches out everywhere. These branches carry sensations (sensory information) between your brain and the rest of your body and allow for the motion (motor function) of all your moving parts.
Most of the nerves in your body originate in thespinal cord. The 12 nerves in your head are different. They’re calledcranial nervesand they emerge, as symmetrical pairs, from the brain itself.
Structure
Ten of your cranial nerves, including the hypoglossal nerve, emerge from the brainstem, which sits at the back of your brain and connects your brain to the spinal cord. Specifically, the hypoglossal nerve emerges from the hypoglossal nucleus, which is about at the midline of themedulla oblongata.
A branch of thecervical plexusruns inside the sheath of the hypoglossal nerve, but the fibers of these two nerves don’t join together in any way.
The hypoglossal nerve doesn’t branch off until it reaches the muscles of the tongue, at which time it sends off numerous small branches to innervate the tongue muscles.
Location
Beginning as about a dozen small “rootlets” that combine to form two branches, the hypoglossal nerve passes through an area of the brain called thesubarachnoidspace, then runs through an opening in the occipital bone, which forms the back and base of the skull.
The two portions of the nerve then join together and leave the skull through the hypoglossal canal. That’s where it meets up with the cervical plexus.
The hypoglossal nerve then runs between the carotid artery and the jugular vein, down into the neck, where it crosses thesternocleidomastoidmuscleand runs along themylohyoidmuscle. It eventually comes up to the floor of the mouth and connects with the muscles of your tongue.
Anatomical VariationsIn some people, the two branches of the hypoglossal nerve don’t join together until after exiting the hypoglossal canal, which, in those people, includes two openings instead of one.
Anatomical Variations
In some people, the two branches of the hypoglossal nerve don’t join together until after exiting the hypoglossal canal, which, in those people, includes two openings instead of one.
The hypoglossal nerve is purely a motor nerve; it doesn’t send any sensory information to and from the brain.
This nerve and the muscles it serves are responsible for several important functions, including:
In addition, the hypoglossal nerve supplies movements that help you clear your mouth of saliva, aid unconscious movements involved in speech, and are involved in several automatic and reflexive motions.
The hypoglossal nerve controls two sets of muscles. One set is extrinsic (on the exterior of the tongue) while the other set is intrinsic (fully contained within the tongue).
The extrinsic muscles include:
The intrinsic muscles include:
The hypoglossal nerve communicates with several other nerves as well, including:
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Injuries that may result in damage to the hypoglossal nerve are rare. Nerve damage can result from injury to the back of the head or neck. Because of its proximity to other cranial nerves, damage to the hypoglossal nerve alone is rare.
Depending on where the injury is, it may affect one or both sides of the nerve pair.
Symptoms of Hypoglossal Nerve Damage
Symptoms of impaired function of the hypoglossal nerve include:
Nerve damage from ALS often causes small twitching movements on the surface of the tongue.
The treatment of hypoglossal nerve dysfunction depends on the cause. To make a diagnosis, a healthcare provider will consider all of your symptoms and perform a physical exam.
Tests may include:
Once a diagnosis is made, treatment can begin.
Current research focuses on direct nerve repair as well as nerve transfers to correct problems such as facial paralysis. Surgical techniques are also improving regarding the hypoglossal nerves as well as several other nerves of the face.
Can the hypoglossal nerve repair itself?
Other Clinical Significance
Hypoglossal nerve stimulation has been found to be a safe and effective treatment forobstructive sleep apneain cases where people haven’t been successful with other treatments. It’s also being researched for children who have bothDown syndromeand obstructive sleep apnea.
Summary
The hypoglossal nerve is the 12th cranial nerve whose function is to enable the tongue to move. Damage to this nerve can affect speech, chewing, and swallowing. Medical conditions or injury can impair hypoglossal nerve function. Treatment will depend on what is causing nerve impairment.
7 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Kim SY, Naqvi IA.Neuroanatomy, cranial nerve 12 (Hypoglossal). Treasure Island, FL: StatPearls Publishing.Merck Manual Consumer Version.Hypoglossal nerve disorders.Elsevier.Muscles of the tongue.Finsterer J, Grisold W.Disorders of the lower cranial nerves.J Neurosci Rural Pract.2015;6(3):377-91. doi:10.4103/0976-3147.158768Mohd Yusof J, Abu Dahari KAS, Kaur N, et al.Iatrogenic hypoglossal nerve palsy, a rare complication post suspension laryngoscopy. J Taibah Univ Med Sci. 2021 Nov 14;17(4):623-625. doi: 10.1016/j.jtumed.2021.09.012Shah AC, Barnes C, Spiekerman CF, et al.Hypoglossal nerve palsy after airway management for general anesthesia: an analysis of 69 patients. Anesth Analg. 2015 Jan;120(1):105-120. doi: 10.1213/ANE.0000000000000495Hong SO, Chen YF, Jung J, Kwon YD, Liu SYC.Hypoglossal nerve stimulation for treatment of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA): a primer for oral and maxillofacial surgeons.Maxillofac Plast Reconstr Surg. 2017;39(1):27. doi:10.1186/s40902-017-0126-0Additional ReadingCaloway CL, Diercks GR, Keamy D, et al.Update on hypoglossal nerve stimulation in children with down syndrome and obstructive sleep apnea.Laryngoscope. 2020;130(4):E263-E267. doi:10.1002/lary.28138Certal VF, Zaghi S, Riaz M, et al.Hypoglossal nerve stimulation in the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Laryngoscope. 2015 May;125(5):1254-64. doi:10.1002/lary.25032Hui AC, Tsui IW, Chan DP.Hypoglossal nerve palsy.Hong Kong Med J. 2009 Jun;15(3):234.Jandali D, Revenaugh PC.Facial reanimation: an update on nerve transfers in facial paralysis.Curr Opin Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2019;27(4):231-236. doi:10.1097/MOO.0000000000000543
7 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Kim SY, Naqvi IA.Neuroanatomy, cranial nerve 12 (Hypoglossal). Treasure Island, FL: StatPearls Publishing.Merck Manual Consumer Version.Hypoglossal nerve disorders.Elsevier.Muscles of the tongue.Finsterer J, Grisold W.Disorders of the lower cranial nerves.J Neurosci Rural Pract.2015;6(3):377-91. doi:10.4103/0976-3147.158768Mohd Yusof J, Abu Dahari KAS, Kaur N, et al.Iatrogenic hypoglossal nerve palsy, a rare complication post suspension laryngoscopy. J Taibah Univ Med Sci. 2021 Nov 14;17(4):623-625. doi: 10.1016/j.jtumed.2021.09.012Shah AC, Barnes C, Spiekerman CF, et al.Hypoglossal nerve palsy after airway management for general anesthesia: an analysis of 69 patients. Anesth Analg. 2015 Jan;120(1):105-120. doi: 10.1213/ANE.0000000000000495Hong SO, Chen YF, Jung J, Kwon YD, Liu SYC.Hypoglossal nerve stimulation for treatment of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA): a primer for oral and maxillofacial surgeons.Maxillofac Plast Reconstr Surg. 2017;39(1):27. doi:10.1186/s40902-017-0126-0Additional ReadingCaloway CL, Diercks GR, Keamy D, et al.Update on hypoglossal nerve stimulation in children with down syndrome and obstructive sleep apnea.Laryngoscope. 2020;130(4):E263-E267. doi:10.1002/lary.28138Certal VF, Zaghi S, Riaz M, et al.Hypoglossal nerve stimulation in the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Laryngoscope. 2015 May;125(5):1254-64. doi:10.1002/lary.25032Hui AC, Tsui IW, Chan DP.Hypoglossal nerve palsy.Hong Kong Med J. 2009 Jun;15(3):234.Jandali D, Revenaugh PC.Facial reanimation: an update on nerve transfers in facial paralysis.Curr Opin Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2019;27(4):231-236. doi:10.1097/MOO.0000000000000543
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Kim SY, Naqvi IA.Neuroanatomy, cranial nerve 12 (Hypoglossal). Treasure Island, FL: StatPearls Publishing.Merck Manual Consumer Version.Hypoglossal nerve disorders.Elsevier.Muscles of the tongue.Finsterer J, Grisold W.Disorders of the lower cranial nerves.J Neurosci Rural Pract.2015;6(3):377-91. doi:10.4103/0976-3147.158768Mohd Yusof J, Abu Dahari KAS, Kaur N, et al.Iatrogenic hypoglossal nerve palsy, a rare complication post suspension laryngoscopy. J Taibah Univ Med Sci. 2021 Nov 14;17(4):623-625. doi: 10.1016/j.jtumed.2021.09.012Shah AC, Barnes C, Spiekerman CF, et al.Hypoglossal nerve palsy after airway management for general anesthesia: an analysis of 69 patients. Anesth Analg. 2015 Jan;120(1):105-120. doi: 10.1213/ANE.0000000000000495Hong SO, Chen YF, Jung J, Kwon YD, Liu SYC.Hypoglossal nerve stimulation for treatment of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA): a primer for oral and maxillofacial surgeons.Maxillofac Plast Reconstr Surg. 2017;39(1):27. doi:10.1186/s40902-017-0126-0
Kim SY, Naqvi IA.Neuroanatomy, cranial nerve 12 (Hypoglossal). Treasure Island, FL: StatPearls Publishing.
Merck Manual Consumer Version.Hypoglossal nerve disorders.
Elsevier.Muscles of the tongue.
Finsterer J, Grisold W.Disorders of the lower cranial nerves.J Neurosci Rural Pract.2015;6(3):377-91. doi:10.4103/0976-3147.158768
Mohd Yusof J, Abu Dahari KAS, Kaur N, et al.Iatrogenic hypoglossal nerve palsy, a rare complication post suspension laryngoscopy. J Taibah Univ Med Sci. 2021 Nov 14;17(4):623-625. doi: 10.1016/j.jtumed.2021.09.012
Shah AC, Barnes C, Spiekerman CF, et al.Hypoglossal nerve palsy after airway management for general anesthesia: an analysis of 69 patients. Anesth Analg. 2015 Jan;120(1):105-120. doi: 10.1213/ANE.0000000000000495
Hong SO, Chen YF, Jung J, Kwon YD, Liu SYC.Hypoglossal nerve stimulation for treatment of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA): a primer for oral and maxillofacial surgeons.Maxillofac Plast Reconstr Surg. 2017;39(1):27. doi:10.1186/s40902-017-0126-0
Caloway CL, Diercks GR, Keamy D, et al.Update on hypoglossal nerve stimulation in children with down syndrome and obstructive sleep apnea.Laryngoscope. 2020;130(4):E263-E267. doi:10.1002/lary.28138Certal VF, Zaghi S, Riaz M, et al.Hypoglossal nerve stimulation in the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Laryngoscope. 2015 May;125(5):1254-64. doi:10.1002/lary.25032Hui AC, Tsui IW, Chan DP.Hypoglossal nerve palsy.Hong Kong Med J. 2009 Jun;15(3):234.Jandali D, Revenaugh PC.Facial reanimation: an update on nerve transfers in facial paralysis.Curr Opin Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2019;27(4):231-236. doi:10.1097/MOO.0000000000000543
Caloway CL, Diercks GR, Keamy D, et al.Update on hypoglossal nerve stimulation in children with down syndrome and obstructive sleep apnea.Laryngoscope. 2020;130(4):E263-E267. doi:10.1002/lary.28138
Certal VF, Zaghi S, Riaz M, et al.Hypoglossal nerve stimulation in the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Laryngoscope. 2015 May;125(5):1254-64. doi:10.1002/lary.25032
Hui AC, Tsui IW, Chan DP.Hypoglossal nerve palsy.Hong Kong Med J. 2009 Jun;15(3):234.
Jandali D, Revenaugh PC.Facial reanimation: an update on nerve transfers in facial paralysis.Curr Opin Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2019;27(4):231-236. doi:10.1097/MOO.0000000000000543
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