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).
Anatomy
The styloglossus muscle is the shortest and smallest of the three styloid muscles.
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.
Course and relations
It passes anterioinferiorly from its origin to its insertion between the
internal carotid artery
The internal carotid artery is an artery in the neck which supplies the anterior cerebral artery, anterior and middle cerebral artery, middle cerebral circulation.
In human anatomy, the internal and external carotid artery, external carotid ari ...
and the
external carotid artery
The external carotid artery is the major artery of the head and upper neck. It arises from the common carotid artery. It terminates by splitting into the superficial temporal and maxillary artery within the parotid gland.
Structure
Origin
T ...
, and between the
superior pharyngeal constrictor muscle
The superior pharyngeal constrictor muscle is a quadrilateral muscle of the pharynx. It is the uppermost and thinnest of the three pharyngeal constrictors.
The muscle is divided into four parts according to its four distincts origins: a pterygop ...
and the
middle pharyngeal constrictor muscle.
Insertion
It divides upon the side of the tongue near the dorsal surface of the tongue, blending with the fibers of the
longitudinalis inferior muscle anterior to the
hyoglossus muscle.
Innervation
The styloglossus is innervated by the
hypoglossal nerve (CN XII) (like all muscles of the tongue except
palatoglossus which is innervated by the
pharyngeal plexus of vagus nerve (CN X)).
Function
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.
Additional images
Image:Gray137.png, Left temporal bone. Outer surface.
Image:Gray386.png, Muscles of the neck. Anterior view.
Image:Gray513.png, The internal carotid and vertebral arteries. Right side.
Image:Gray793.png, Course and distribution of the glossopharyngeal, vagus, and accessory nerves.
Image:Gray794.png, Hypoglossal nerve, cervical plexus, and their branches.
File:Slide8aaa.JPG, Styloglossus muscle
File:Slide7ggg.JPG, Styloglossus muscle
File:Slide7hhh.JPG, Styloglossus muscle
File:Slide14lll.JPG, Styloglossus muscle
References
External links
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Muscles of the head and neck
Tongue