Which muscle group does it belong to?
The styloglossus muscle belongs to the group of skeletal muscles of the tongue. Intrinsic muscles are located in three mutually perpendicular planes and change the shape of the tongue, while skeletal muscles run from the bones to the tongue and change its position.
Together with m. styloglossus, the skeletal muscles of the tongue include:
- Genioglossus muscle (m. genioglossus) — lies directly beneath the mucosa of the oral floor, fans out into the tongue; protrudes the tongue forward and downward.
- Hyoglossus muscle (m. hyoglossus) — pulls the tongue backward and downward.
- Palatoglossus muscle (m. palatoglossus) — narrows the fauces.
What is its function?
m. styloglossus pulls the tongue backward and upward.
Topography and adjacent structures
- Styloid diaphragm — a septum formed by muscles originating from the styloid process (m. styloglossus, m. stylopharyngeus, m. stylohyoideus) and their fascial sheaths. It divides the parapharyngeal space (spatium parapharyngeum) at the lateral wall of the pharynx into two compartments:
- Anterior parapharyngeal space — filled with adipose tissue, contains ascending pharyngeal vessels and the pharyngeal process of the parotid salivary gland.
- Posterior (retrodiahragmatic) space — contains the internal carotid artery, internal jugular vein, and four pairs of cranial nerves (IX, X, XI, XII).
- Relationship to vessels — m. styloglossus together with m. stylopharyngeus separates the cervical part of the internal carotid artery from the parotid gland. The artery runs along the lateral wall of the pharynx, medial to the parotid gland.
- Palate region — m. styloglossus is indicated among the main structures in the diagram of the topography of the hard and soft palate (inferior view).
Blood supply and innervation
The provided fragments indicate:
- Innervation of the tongue muscles — predominantly by the hypoglossal nerve (n. hypoglossus).
- Blood supply of the tongue — a. lingualis.
- Venous drainage of the tongue — via v. lingualis, which drains into the internal jugular vein (v. jugularis interna).
- Lymphatics of the tongue — to nodi lymphoidei submentales, submandibulares, cervicales profundi.
The following nerves are specified for the parts of the tongue: anterior 2/3 — n. lingualis and chorda tympani; posterior third — n. glossopharyngeus and n. laryngeus superior.
Class and exam questions
Which muscle group of the tongue does the styloglossus muscle belong to?
It belongs to the skeletal muscles of the tongue. Intrinsic muscles change the shape of the tongue and are located in three mutually perpendicular planes; skeletal muscles run from bones to the tongue and change the position of the tongue.
What is the styloid diaphragm and what is the role of m. styloglossus in it?
The styloid diaphragm is a septum formed by muscles from the styloid process, including the styloglossus muscle, and their fascial sheaths. It divides the parapharyngeal space into anterior and posterior compartments.
How is the styloglossus muscle positioned relative to the internal carotid artery?
The styloglossus muscle, together with the stylopharyngeus muscle, separates the cervical part of the internal carotid artery, which runs along the lateral wall of the pharynx, from the parotid gland.
Which nerve innervates the styloglossus muscle?
The muscles of the tongue are predominantly innervated by the hypoglossal nerve (n. hypoglossus).
What else to study on this topic
- Parapharyngeal space (spatium parapharyngeum)
- Skeletal and intrinsic muscles of the tongue
- Internal carotid artery (cervical part)
- Hypoglossal nerve (n. hypoglossus)
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