What is the function of the hypoglossal canal?

Function. The hypoglossal canal transmits the hypoglossal nerve from its point of entry near the medulla oblongata to its exit from the base of the skull near the jugular foramen.

What runs in hypoglossal canal?

The hypoglossal canal is located between the occipital condyle and jugular tubercle and runs obliquely forwards (posteromedial to anterolateral) allowing the hypoglossal nerve to exit the posterior cranial fossa.

What cranial nerve goes through the hypoglossal canal?

The Hypoglossal Nerve is the 12th Cranial Nerve (Cranial Nerve XII). It is mainly an efferent nerve for the tongue musculature. The nerve originates from the medulla and travels caudally and dorsally to the tongue.

What is the main function of CN XII?

The hypoglossal nerve (CN XII) is exclusively a motor nerve carrying general somatic efferent fibers (GSE). It innervates all intrinsic and almost all extrinsic muscles of the tongue, as well as one suprahyoid muscle, the geniohyoid muscle.

How does damage to the hypoglossal nerve cause speech impairment?

Examination. Damage to the hypoglossal nerve causes paralysis of the tongue. Usually, one side of the tongue is affected, and when the person sticks out his or her tongue, it deviates or points toward the side that is damaged.

Is the hypoglossal motor or sensory?

Table of cranial nerves


No. Name Sensory, motor, or both
IX Glossopharyngeal Both sensory and motor
X Vagus Both sensory and motor
XI Accessory Sometimes: cranial accessory, spinal accessory. Mainly motor
XII Hypoglossal Mainly motor

Is the Abducens nerve sensory or motor?

The trochlear, abducens, accessory, and hypoglossal nerves are only motor nerves, the trigeminal nerve is both sensory and motor, the oculomotor nerve is both motor and parasympathetic, the facial glossopharyngeal, and vagus nerves have sensory, motor, and parasympathetic components (Standring, 2008).

Is there a nerve in your tongue that can paralyze you?

The hypoglossal nerve is the most commonly involved lower cranial nerve220, the patient may present with unilateral, often asymptomatic tongue paralysis,221223 or with bilateral and disabling paralysis.

Where does the hypoglossal nerve exit the brain?

The hypoglossal nerve arises from the hypoglossal nucleus in the medulla oblongata of the brainstem. It then passes laterally across the posterior cranial fossa, within the subarachnoid space. The nerve exits the cranium via the hypoglossal canal.

What are the 12 cranial nerves and functions in order?

The 12 Cranial Nerves

  • I. Olfactory nerve.
  • II. Optic nerve.
  • III. Oculomotor nerve.
  • IV. Trochlear nerve.
  • V. Trigeminal nerve.
  • VI. Abducens nerve.
  • VII. Facial nerve.
  • VIII. Vestibulocochlear nerve.

Which muscle is innervated by the XII hypoglossal nerve?

Hypoglossal Nerve Stimulation

The hypoglossal nerve (cranial nerve XII) innervates both the tongue protrusor (genioglossus) and retrusor (styloglossus and hyoglossus) muscles through its medial and lateral divisions.

Why is the blink reflex important?

The eyes need a smooth surface for light to properly focus on, so vision doesn’t become blurry. Blinking releases a tear film — which mostly consists of water, oil and mucus — to keep the surface of the eyeball smooth. It also prevents the eye from drying out, which can be uncomfortable.

Why is the trochlear nerve unique?

The trochlear nerve is unique among the cranial nerves in several respects: It is the smallest nerve in terms of the number of axons it contains. It has the greatest intracranial length. It is the only cranial nerve that exits from the dorsal (rear) aspect of the brainstem.

How is the tongue connected to the brain?

A little-known fact: the tongue is directly connected to the brain stem. … The nerves on the tip of the tongue are directly connected to the brain stem, a crucial hub that directs basic bodily processes.

What is the third nerve?

The oculomotor nerve is the third cranial nerve (CN III). It allows movement of the eye muscles, constriction of the pupil, focusing the eyes and the position of the upper eyelid. Cranial nerve III works with other cranial nerves to control eye movements and support sensory functioning.

What is deep to the hypoglossal trigone?

The hypoglossal nuclei are located within the tegmentum of upper medulla close to the midline, lying deep to the hypoglossal trigone, or hypoglossal triangle, which is the medial eminence of the floor of the fourth ventricle, inferior to the stria medullaris 1.

How do you learn the 12 cranial nerves?

How to Remember the Cranial Nerves (Mnemonic) – MEDZCOOL – YouTube

What is the function of the abducens and Trochlear?

The trochlear (CN IV) and abducens (CN VI) nerves innervate the extraocular muscles that are responsible for positioning the eyeballs. The positioning ensures that the eyes can focus on a visual target.

What is the function of the abducens nerve quizlet?

The abducens nerve controls the muscle that produce lateral eyeball movement.

How does the abducens nerve move the eye?

The function of the abducens nerve is quite simple and straightforward: It moves the eye outward (abduction) so you can look to the side. Via the contralateral medial rectus muscle, it coordinates the simultaneous side-to-side movement of your eyes.

Does tongue rings make your breath stink?

Tongue piercings can give you stinky breath.

Plaque builds up on teeth and can lead to pungent breath. Putting a piece of jewelry in your mouth gives plaque another place to build up, and tongue piercings can be hard to clean. Do yourself a favor and avoid this unnecessary hassle.

Does the tongue have a mind of its own?

Proverbs 17:27 says, “He who has knowledge spares his words.” My tongue may have a mind of its own, but if I close my lips and clinch my teeth, the false ones and the real ones, the best it can do is mumble.

Why do girls get their tongue pierced?

Some like the way it looks, some want to try something new or reclaim a part of themselves. I knew a girl who had a bad stutter and had her tongue pierced as a part of her way of accepting herself.

How is the hypoglossal nerve tested?

The hypoglossal nerve can be examined by asking a patient to protrude their tongue, move their tongue laterally, and place their tongue against their cheek to resist the opposing force of the examiner’s hand resting on the external cheek. Pathology to CN XII is a relatively uncommon event.

Is hypoglossal nerve a mixed nerve?

CN XII, Hypoglossal, innervates the muscles of the throat and enables us to swallow. … The mixed cranial nerves are CN III Occulomotor, CN V Trigeminal, CN VII Facial, CN IX Glossopharyngeal and CN X Vagus.

How do you test for CN 12’s function?

12th Cranial nerve

The 12th (hypoglossal) cranial nerve is evaluated by asking the patient to extend the tongue and inspecting it for atrophy, fasciculations, and weakness (deviation is toward the side of a lesion).

What are the 31 spinal nerves?

In humans there are 31 pairs: 8 cervical, 12 thoracic, 5 lumbar, 5 sacral, and 1 coccygeal. Each pair connects the spinal cord with a specific region of the body. Near the spinal cord each spinal nerve branches into two roots.

What are the 12 cranial nerves sensory or motor?

Cranial nerves I, II, and VIII are pure sensory nerves. Cranial nerves III, IV, VI, XI, and XII are pure motor nerves. Cranial nerves V, VII, IX, and X are mixed sensory and motor nerves.

What nerve controls taste and smell?

Also known as CN1, the olfactory nerve is the first of 12 cranial nerves located within the head.

What nerve helps you swallow?

The glossopharyngeal nerve enervates muscles involved in swallowing and taste. Lesions of the ninth nerve result in difficulty swallowing and disturbance of taste. The vagus nerve enervates the gut (gastrointestinal tract), heart and larynx.

What happens if you don’t blink?

If you don’t blink, or don’t blink frequently enough: Your cornea can swell. Your cornea doesn’t have blood vessels, so it needs oxygen from the tear film, which it gets when you blink. … Your risk of eye infection increases due to debris that stays in your eye and a lack of oxygen to the eye.

Does your brain disconnect when you blink?

Blinking temporarily switches off parts of your brain, according to a study published in the latest issue of Current Biology. The University College London (UCL) team found that the brain actively shuts down parts of the visual system each time you blink, even if light is still entering the eyes.

Do we blink in our sleep?

While sleeping, we can’t blink. Blinking is how our eyes stay lubricated, and offers protection from environmental damage, whether too much bright light (think about how often you blink when you move from a dark room to a bright one) or dust and debris in the air.

What is the most important nerve in your body?

The spinal cord is a thick nerve trunk that forms the brain’s most important connection to the body and carries all signals to and from the brain that are not provided by the cranial nerves.

What is sensory function of the trochlear nerve?

The trochlear nerve doesn’t transmit sensory signals. It functions purely as a motor nerve. The one muscle it sends signals to—the superior oblique muscle—is one of six muscles that allow the eye to make precise movements for tracking or focusing on an object.

What is the largest nerve in the body?

Sciatic Nerve and Sciatica. The sciatic nerve is the longest, largest nerve in your body. Your sciatic nerve roots start in your lower back and run down the back of each leg.

What is a person without tongue called?

Mahood and assistant professor Long Wang looked at the extremely rare condition known as Isolated Congenital Aglossia (ICA), where a person is born without a tongue and no other symptoms.

What are the taste bud?

Taste buds are sensory organs that are found on your tongue and allow you to experience tastes that are sweet, salty, sour, and bitter. How exactly do your taste buds work? Well, stick out your tongue and look in the mirror.

What does human brains taste like?

What do brains taste like? The texture is easier to describe: creamy but firm, like overly curdled yogurt or lumpy tofu. The taste is unlike any other part of the animal, with the exception perhaps of sweetbreads. … Brains also taste somewhat like a firm fish roe, though without the fishiness, of course.