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Elsevier
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Hyoglossus Muscle
Muscular System

Hyoglossus Muscle

Musculus hyoglossus

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Quick Facts

Origin: Greater horn of hyoid bone.

Insertion: Blends with intrinsic muscles of tongue.

Action: Depresses tongue.

Innervation: Hypoglossal nerve (CN XII).

Arterial Supply: Sublingual and submental arteries.

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Origin

The hyoglossus muscle originates along the length of the greater horn of the hyoid bone.

Insertion

The hyoglossus muscle extends upward and inserts into the lateral aspect of the tongue.

Key Features & Anatomical Relations

The superficial (external) surface of the hyoglossus muscle is related to several muscles including the digastric tendon, stylohyoid, styloglossus, and mylohyoid. Additionally, the lingual nerve, the hyoglossus nerve, and the sublingual gland lie external to this muscle.

The deep (internal) surface of the hyoglossus muscle is related to several muscles including the genioglossus and the middle pharyngeal constrictor. Posteroinferiorly, it is separated from the middle pharyngeal constrictor by the lingual artery.

Actions

The hyoglossus muscle depresses the tongue (Standring, 2016).

References

Standring, S. (2016) Gray's Anatomy: The Anatomical Basis of Clinical Practice. Gray's Anatomy Series 41st edn.: Elsevier Limited.

Complete Anatomy

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Complete Anatomy