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AnatomyHead and neckSkull
Hypoglossal canal
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Hypoglossal canal

Author: Nicola McLaren MSc • Reviewer: Dimitrios Mytilinaios MD, PhD
Last reviewed: August 02, 2022
Reading time: 1 minute

Hypoglossal canal
Canalis nervi hypoglossi
1/2

The hypoglossal canal is a small opening in the occipital bone. There are two hypoglossal canals (left and right) located in the anterolateral margins of the foramen magnum, deep to the occipital condyles. The canals take a slightly oblique angle, facing in a superoanterior direction.

The hypoglossal canal is the cranial exit for the hypoglossal nerve (cranial nerve XII). This nerve provides somatic motor innervation to the intrinsic and extrinsic muscles of tongue (except palatoglossus). It also transmits the meningeal branch of the ascending pharyngeal artery, the venous plexus of the hypoglossal canal which has connections to emissary vein/s from the basilar plexus. It also allows the re-entry into the skull of the meningeal branches of the hypoglossal nerve (which in fact carry fibers from the sensory spinal ganglion of C2 spinal nerve rather than hypoglossal nerve fibers).

Terminology English: Hypoglossal canal
Latin: Canalis hypoglossus
Definition and function The hypoglossal canal is a small opening in the occipital bone, located adjacent to the foramen magnum. It transmits the hypoglossal nerve (cranial nerve XII).

Learn more about the various foramen of the skull with this study unit:

Cranial fossae Explore study unit

Sources

All content published on Kenhub is reviewed by medical and anatomy experts. The information we provide is grounded on academic literature and peer-reviewed research. Kenhub does not provide medical advice. You can learn more about our content creation and review standards by reading our content quality guidelines.

Moore, K. L., Dalley, A. F., & Agur, A. (2017). Clinically oriented anatomy (8th ed.). Lippincott Williams and Wilkins.

Standring, S. (2016). Gray's Anatomy (41tst ed.). Edinburgh: Elsevier Churchill Livingstone.

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