Styloglossus

The styloglossus muscle is a bilaterally paired muscle of the tongue. It originates at the styloid process of the temporal bone. It inserts onto the side of the tongue. It acts to elevate and retract the tongue. It is innervated by the hypoglossal nerve (cranial nerve XII).^[1]

Anatomy

The styloglossus muscle is the shortest and smallest of the three styloid muscles.^{[citation needed]}

Origin

It arises from (the anterior and lateral surfaces of) the styloid process of the temporal bone near its apex, and from the stylomandibular ligament.^{[citation needed]}

Course and relations

It passes anterioinferiorly from its origin to its insertion between the

The styloglossus draws up the sides of the tongue to create a trough for swallowing. Acting bilaterally (both styloglossus muscles contracting simultaneously) they also aid in retracting the tongue.^[citation needed]

Additional images

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  Left temporal bone. Outer surface.
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  Muscles of the neck. Anterior view.
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  The internal carotid and vertebral arteries. Right side.
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  Course and distribution of the glossopharyngeal, vagus, and accessory nerves.
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  Hypoglossal nerve, cervical plexus, and their branches.
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  Styloglossus muscle
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  Styloglossus muscle
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  Styloglossus muscle
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  Styloglossus muscle

References

This article incorporates text in the public domain from page 1130 of the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)

External links

• "Anatomy diagram: 25420.000-1". Roche Lexicon - illustrated navigator. Elsevier. Archived from the original on 2015-02-26.