Hyoglossus

Hyoglossus is a muscle in the human body that is part of the tongue's extrinsic muscles. It is a thin, quadrilateral muscle that is located in the neck and is responsible for the downward movement of the tongue. The Hyoglossus originates from the hyoid bone and inserts into the side of the tongue.

Anatomy

The Hyoglossus muscle originates from the side of the body and the greater cornu of the hyoid bone. From there, it runs upwards and forwards, and inserts into the side of the tongue. The muscle fibers from the body of the hyoid bone are continuous with those from the greater cornu.

The Hyoglossus is located between the Styloglossus and the Inferior longitudinal muscle of the tongue. It is covered by the Mylohyoid muscle, the Hypoglossal nerve, and the Lingual artery and Lingual vein.

Function

The main function of the Hyoglossus is to depress the tongue. It pulls the sides of the tongue down which helps in the downward movement of the tongue. This is important for several functions including swallowing and speech.

Clinical significance

Damage to the Hyoglossus muscle can result in difficulty moving the tongue which can affect speech and swallowing. Conditions that can affect the Hyoglossus include nerve damage, muscle disorders, and injuries.

See also

• Tongue
• Extrinsic muscles of the tongue
• Hyoid bone
• Styloglossus
• Inferior longitudinal muscle of the tongue
• Mylohyoid muscle
• Hypoglossal nerve
• Lingual artery
• Lingual vein

References

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