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Hyoglossus muscle

Overview of the intrinsic and extrinsic muscles of the tongue.

The hyoglossus is one the four extrinsic muscles of the tongue, together with the genioglossus, styloglossus and palatoglossus and is located in the floor of the oral cavity. It is thin and quadrangular in shape, arising from the body and greater horn of the hyoid bone. It courses vertically up to insert into the inferior/ventral parts of lateral tongue

The function of the hyoglossus is to depress and retract the tongue. It receives innervation from the hypoglossal nerve (CN XII). Blood supply to the hyoglossus is mainly via the lingual artery with additional supply via the facial artery

Terminology English: Hyoglossus muscle
Latin
: Musculus hyoglossus
Definition A thin, quadrangular extrinsic muscle of the tongue found in the floor of the oral cavity
Attachments Origin: Body and greater horn of hyoid bone
Insertion: Inferior/ventral parts of lateral tongue
Supply Vascular: branches of the lingual and facial arteries
Innervation: hypoglossal nerve (CN XII)
Function Depress and retract tongue

Learn more about the muscles of the tongue with this study unit (and article):

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