Which nucleus is primarily responsible for tongue movement?

Which nucleus is primarily responsible for tongue movement?

• A. Hypoglossal nucleus
• B. Oculomotor nucleus
• C. Trochlear nucleus
• D. Abducens nucleus

Answer: (A)

The movement of the tongue is governed by the hypoglossal nucleus, a motor nucleus in the medulla that gives rise to the hypoglossal nerve (cranial nerve XII). This nucleus innervates all intrinsic tongue muscles and the extrinsic tongue muscles (genioglossus, hyoglossus, styloglossus), providing the voluntary control needed for protrusion, retraction, and shaping of the tongue. The other listed nuclei belong to cranial nerves III, IV, and VI, which control the eye muscles, not the tongue. So the hypoglossal nucleus is the one directly responsible for tongue movement.

The movement of the tongue is governed by the hypoglossal nucleus, a motor nucleus in the medulla that gives rise to the hypoglossal nerve (cranial nerve XII). This nucleus innervates all intrinsic tongue muscles and the extrinsic tongue muscles (genioglossus, hyoglossus, styloglossus), providing the voluntary control needed for protrusion, retraction, and shaping of the tongue. The other listed nuclei belong to cranial nerves III, IV, and VI, which control the eye muscles, not the tongue. So the hypoglossal nucleus is the one directly responsible for tongue movement.