Hyoglossus
Extrinsic muscles of the tongue. Left side. (Hyoglossus visible at center.)
Muscles of the neck. Anterior view. Hyoglossal muscle in purple
Latin	musculus hyoglossus
Gray's	subject #242 1129
Origin	Hyoid
Insertion	side of the tongue
Artery
Nerve	Hypoglossal (CN XII)
Actions	depresses and retracts the tongue

The Hyoglossus, thin and quadrilateral, arises from the side of the body and from the whole length of the greater cornu of the hyoid bone, and passes almost vertically upward to enter the side of the tongue, between the Styloglossus and Longitudinalis inferior.

The hyoglossus depresses and retracts the tongue makes the dorsum more convex

The fibers arising from the body of the hyoid bone overlap those from the greater cornu.

It is important in singing.

Structures passing medially to the hyoglossus muscle are the lingual vein and lingual artery. Laterally, in between the hyoglossus muscle and the mylohyoid muscle lay several important structures (from superior in inferior): submandibular gland, submandibular duct, lingual nerve, vena comitans of hypoglossal nerve, and the hypoglossal nerve. Note, posteriorly, the lingual nerve is superior to the submandibular duct and a portion of the submandibular salivary gland protrudes into the space between the hyoglossus and mylohyoid muscles.

[edit] Additional images

Hyoid bone. Anterior surface. Enlarged.	Muscles of the neck. Lateral view.	The internal carotid and vertebral arteries. Right side.	Distribution of the maxillary and mandibular nerves, and the submaxillary ganglion.
Course and distribution of the glossopharyngeal, vagus, and accessory nerves.	Hypoglossal nerve, cervical plexus, and their branches.	Coronal section of tongue, showing intrinsic muscles.

[edit] External links

• LUC hyog
• -187695025 at GPnotebook
• SUNY Figs 34:02-09
• Roche Lexicon - illustrated navigator, at Elsevier 25420.000-1
• Diagram
• Hyoglossus Muscle

This article was originally based on an entry from a public domain edition of Gray's Anatomy. As such, some of the information contained within it may be outdated.

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