Styloglossus muscle
Musculus styloglossus
- Related terms: Styloglossus
Definition
Styloglossus muscle | |
Origin | Styloid process |
Insertion | Side of tongue |
Blood supply | |
Innervation | Hypoglossal nerve (CN XII) |
Action | Elevates and retracts the tongue |
The styloglossus muscle is one of the extrinsic muscles of the tongue, primarily responsible for retracting and elevating the tongue during swallowing and speech.
It arises from the anterior aspect of the styloid process of the temporal bone and the stylohyoid ligament, . The fibres pass downward and forward to insert into the side of the tongue, blending with the inferior longitudinal muscle and fibres of the hyoglossus.
It is innervated by the hypoglossal nerve (cranial nerve XII) and acts to draw the tongue upward and backward, such as during swallowing.
Relations
The styloglossus muscle lies anterior to the stylopharyngeus (which is more deeply situated) and inner to the stylohyoid muscle.
References
Gray, H. (2016) Gray’s Anatomy: The Anatomical Basis of Clinical Practice. 41st edn. Edited by S. Standring. New York: Elsevier. Chapter 31: Oral Cavity, pp. 512.
Dotiwala AK, Samra NS. Anatomy, Head and Neck, Tongue. [Updated 2023 Aug 21]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2025 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK507782/
