Expansion
Style Helps Genius Pals
Mnemonic
“All the -glossus muscles”, four on each side:
- Genioglossus - protrudes
- Hyoglossus - depresses
- Styloglossus - retracts and elevates
- Palatoglossus - elevates the back of the tongue
All are supplied by the hypoglossal nerve (XII) except palatoglossus, which is vagus (X), because it is really a muscle of the soft palate that happens to reach the tongue.
The same “all except one” pattern governs the palate: all soft palate muscles are vagus except tensor veli palatini, which is V3; and the pharynx: all constrictors are vagus except stylopharyngeus, which is glossopharyngeal (IX).
Genioglossus deviates the tongue towards the weak side on protrusion, because it pushes rather than pulls.
Expansion
- S - Styloglossus
- H - Hyoglossus
- G - Genioglossus
- P - Palatoglossus