Cranial Nerve XII - Hypoglossal
Anatomy
Below is an image showing the anatomy of Cranial Nerve XII in relation to the other nerves.
The image is taken and modified from the Wiki Commons under the Creative Commons License.
Type
Mainly motor but some sensory. Consists of both a motor portion and a sensory portion.
Origins & Insertions
| Nerve | Origin | Insertion |
| Sensory Portion | Proprioceptors in tongue muscles | Medulla |
| Motor Portion | Medulla | Muscles of the tongue |
Foramen
The Hypoglossal Canal (as shown below)
Image taken and modified from Flickr under the Creative Commons License
Function
The Sensory portion conveys;
- proprioception to the muscles of the tongue
The Motor portion conveys;
- movement of tongue during speech and swallowing