Styloglossus muscle

Musculus styloglossus

  • Related terms: Styloglossus

Definition

Origin: Styloid process of temporal bone

Insertion: Tongue

Nerve: Hypoglossal nerve

Action: Elevates and retracts tongue

Antagonist: Inferior and middle fibers ofgenioglossus

Description:
The Styloglossus, the shortest and smallest of the three styloid muscles, arises from the anterior and lateral surfaces of the styloid process, near its apex, and from the stylomandibular ligament. Passing downward and forward between the internal and external carotid arteries, it divides upon the side of the tongue near its dorsal surface, blending with the fibers of the Longitudinalis inferior in front of the Hyoglossus; the other, oblique, overlaps the Hyoglossus and decussates with its fibers.

This definition incorporates text from a public domain edition of Gray's Anatomy (20th U.S. edition of Gray's Anatomy of the Human Body, published in 1918 – from http://www.bartleby.com/107/).

Comparative anatomy in animals

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