hypoglossal

American  

[hahy-puh-glos-uhl, -glaw-suhl] / ˌhaɪ pəˈglɒs əl, -ˈglɔ səl /

adjective

1. situated under the tongue.

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noun

1. hypoglossal nerve.

hypoglossal British  

/ ˌhaɪpəˈɡlɒsəl /

adjective

1. situated beneath the tongue

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noun

1. short for hypoglossal nerve

Etymology

Origin of hypoglossal

1825–35; hypo- + Greek glôss ( a ) tongue ( see gloss ²) + -al ¹

Example Sentences

The hypoglossal nerve is responsible for controlling the muscles of the lower throat and tongue.

From Textbooks • Jun. 19, 2013

Openings here include the large foramen magnum, plus the internal acoustic meatus, jugular foramina, and hypoglossal canals.

From Textbooks • Jun. 19, 2013

The hypoglossal nerve is the motor nerve that controls the muscles of the tongue, except for the palatoglossus muscle, which is controlled by the vagus nerve.

From Textbooks • Jun. 19, 2013

While examining the oral cavity, movement of the tongue will indicate whether hypoglossal function is impaired.

From Textbooks • Jun. 19, 2013

Paralysis of the tongue—unilateral or bilateral—may be due to injury or disease of the nerve centres of the hypoglossal nerve, more frequently to injury of or pressure on the nerve-trunk.

From Manual of Surgery Volume Second: Extremities—Head—Neck. Sixth Edition. by Miles, Alexander