Hypoglossal canal
Hypoglossal Canal
The Hypoglossal Canal is an important anatomical structure in the human skull. It is a bony canal that transmits the hypoglossal nerve from the brain to the tongue. The canal is located in the occipital bone of the skull, and it is named for the nerve that passes through it.
Etymology[edit | edit source]
The term "hypoglossal" is derived from the Greek words "hypo", meaning under, and "glossa", meaning tongue. This is a reference to the function of the hypoglossal nerve, which controls the movements of the tongue.
Anatomy[edit | edit source]
The hypoglossal canal is a paired structure, with one canal located on each side of the skull. Each canal is approximately 7mm in length and 2mm in diameter. The canals begin at the base of the skull, in the posterior cranial fossa, and they exit on the outer surface of the occipital bone, near the condyles.
The canals are formed by two parts of the occipital bone: the basioccipital and the exoccipital. The basioccipital forms the anterior wall and floor of the canal, while the exoccipital forms the posterior wall and roof.
Function[edit | edit source]
The primary function of the hypoglossal canal is to provide a pathway for the hypoglossal nerve. This nerve is the twelfth cranial nerve, and it is responsible for controlling the movements of the tongue. The nerve originates in the brainstem, passes through the hypoglossal canal, and then innervates the muscles of the tongue.
Clinical Significance[edit | edit source]
The hypoglossal canal is of clinical significance in several medical conditions. For example, in cases of hypoglossal nerve palsy, the nerve can be damaged as it passes through the canal. This can result in difficulty speaking and swallowing, as well as tongue weakness or paralysis.
In addition, the size of the hypoglossal canal can be used as an indicator of certain medical conditions. For example, a larger than normal canal can be a sign of neurofibromatosis type 2, a genetic disorder that causes tumors to form on nerve tissue.
See Also[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
| Hypoglossal canal Resources | |
|---|---|
|
 |
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
|
WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia |
| Let Food Be Thy Medicine Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates |
Translate this page: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
தமிழ்,
తెలుగు,
Urdu,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
বাংলা
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
Greek,
português do Brasil,
polski,
română,
русский,
Nederlands,
norsk,
svenska,
suomi,
Italian
Middle Eastern & African
عربى,
Turkish,
Persian,
Hebrew,
Afrikaans,
isiZulu,
Kiswahili,
Other
Bulgarian,
Hungarian,
Czech,
Swedish,
മലയാളം,
मराठी,
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
ગુજરાતી,
Portuguese,
Ukrainian
Medical Disclaimer: WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. The information on WikiMD is provided as an information resource only, may be incorrect, outdated or misleading, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. Please consult your health care provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. WikiMD expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this site. By visiting this site you agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, which may from time to time be changed or supplemented by WikiMD. If you do not agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, you should not enter or use this site. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD
