title: Cranial nerve XII: the hypoglossal nerve.
abstract: The hypoglossal nerve provides motor innervation to the tongue, and may be affected by pathology at multiple locations along its pathway. Knowledge of its anatomy and careful examination of the tongue are important in the diagnosis of lesions and determination of appropriate testing. The hypoglossal nerve anatomy and physiology, clinical disorders, and the evaluation of the hypoglossal nerve are reviewed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53226, USA. hlin@mcw.edu
authors.forename: Helen C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Paul E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Barkhaus
mesh_terms: D000344:Afferent Pathways / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D004594:Electrophysiology; D006801:Humans; D007002:Hypoglossal Nerve / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000502:physiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D020437:Hypoglossal Nerve Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D014059:Tongue / Q000294:innervation* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D014062:Tongue Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology