Which cranial nerve is responsible for tongue movement?

Which cranial nerve is responsible for tongue movement?

• A. Hypoglossal
• B. Glossopharyngeal
• C. Vagus
• D. Accessory

Answer: (A)

Tongue movement is controlled by the nerve that innervates almost all tongue muscles. The hypoglossal nerve (cranial nerve XII) supplies the intrinsic muscles that shape the tongue and the extrinsic muscles that move it (genioglossus, hyoglossus, styloglossus). That makes it the primary motor supplier for tongue movements involved in speech and swallowing. The other nerves have different roles: glossopharyngeal provides sensory input and a branch to a muscle (stylopharyngeus), vagus supplies the palatoglossus and many autonomic functions, and the accessory nerve mainly moves neck muscles. A lesion to the hypoglossal nerve typically causes the tongue to deviate toward the side of the lesion when protruded due to weakness on that side.

Tongue movement is controlled by the nerve that innervates almost all tongue muscles. The hypoglossal nerve (cranial nerve XII) supplies the intrinsic muscles that shape the tongue and the extrinsic muscles that move it (genioglossus, hyoglossus, styloglossus). That makes it the primary motor supplier for tongue movements involved in speech and swallowing. The other nerves have different roles: glossopharyngeal provides sensory input and a branch to a muscle (stylopharyngeus), vagus supplies the palatoglossus and many autonomic functions, and the accessory nerve mainly moves neck muscles. A lesion to the hypoglossal nerve typically causes the tongue to deviate toward the side of the lesion when protruded due to weakness on that side.