Tongue nerve supply

We study tongue nerve supply into two parts.

1. Sensory supply-

1. Anterior 2/3 of tongue-

  • General sensation (GS) – Trigeminal nerve carry GS from anterior 2/3 of tongue.
  • Special sensation (SS) – Facial nerve carry SS from anterior 2/3 of tongue.

2. Posterior 1/3 of tongue-

  • Glossopharyngeal nerve carry both GS and SS from posterior 1/3 of tongue.

3. Posterior most part of tongue-

  • Vagus nerve carry both GS and SS from posterior most part of tongue.

2. Motor supply-

All extrinsic and intrinsic muscles of tongue are supplied by hypoglossal nerve (12th cranial nerve) except palatoglossus muscle.

Palatoglossus muscle is supplied by vagus nerve.

NOTE : General Sensation (GS) means temperature, pain sensation from tongue.

NOTE : Special sensation (SS) means taste sensation from tongue.