title: Communicating branches between lingual and hypoglossal nerve: observation using Sihler's staining technique.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Many dental procedures are at risk of injuring the lingual nerve. We performed this study to better elucidate the microanatomy that exists between the ipsilateral lingual and hypoglossal nerves so that iatrogenic injury can be avoided.
  
  
  METHODS
  Adult human cadaveric tongues (ten sides) underwent Sihler's staining to identify the microanatomy between the lingual and hypoglossal nerves.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The lingual nerve entered the middle part of the anterior two-thirds of the tongue from its lateral side and divided into two to four thick branches. These branches were then disseminated to the anterior, middle, and posterior parts of the anterior two-thirds of the tongue via 7-14 thin nerve bundles as terminal branches. The hypoglossal nerve entered the tongue at the posterior border of its anterior two-thirds and traveled forward to the apex of the tongue on all sides. All specimens were found to have communicating branches between the lingual and hypoglossal nerves at its anterior, middle, and posterior thirds.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results indicate that the ipsilateral lingual and hypoglossal nerves constantly have three connections on each side between them. This knowledge might aid the dentist in minimizing iatrogenic nerve injury.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Kurume University School of Medicine, 67 Asahi-machi, Kurume, Fukuoka, 830-0011, Japan. iwanaga_jyou@med.kurume-u.ac.jp.|Dental and Oral Medical Center, Kurume University School of Medicine, 67 Asahi-machi, Kurume, Fukuoka, 830-0011, Japan. iwanaga_jyou@med.kurume-u.ac.jp.|Seattle Science Foundation, 550 17th Avenue, Suite 600, Seattle, WA, 98122, USA. iwanaga_jyou@med.kurume-u.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Joe
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Iwanaga
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Kurume University School of Medicine, 67 Asahi-machi, Kurume, Fukuoka, 830-0011, Japan.
authors.forename: Koichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Watanabe
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Kurume University School of Medicine, 67 Asahi-machi, Kurume, Fukuoka, 830-0011, Japan.
authors.forename: Tsuyoshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Saga
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Kurume University School of Medicine, 67 Asahi-machi, Kurume, Fukuoka, 830-0011, Japan.
authors.forename: Yoko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tabira
authors.affiliation: Dental and Oral Medical Center, Kurume University School of Medicine, 67 Asahi-machi, Kurume, Fukuoka, 830-0011, Japan.
authors.forename: Moriyoshi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nakamura
authors.affiliation: Seattle Science Foundation, 550 17th Avenue, Suite 600, Seattle, WA, 98122, USA.|Neuroscience Institute, Swedish Medical Center, 550 17th Avenue, Suite 600, Seattle, WA, 98122, USA.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fisahn
authors.affiliation: Seattle Science Foundation, 550 17th Avenue, Suite 600, Seattle, WA, 98122, USA.
authors.forename: R Shane
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Tubbs
authors.affiliation: Dental and Oral Medical Center, Kurume University School of Medicine, 67 Asahi-machi, Kurume, Fukuoka, 830-0011, Japan.
authors.forename: Jingo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kusukawa
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Kurume University School of Medicine, 67 Asahi-machi, Kurume, Fukuoka, 830-0011, Japan.
authors.forename: Koh-Ichi
authors.initials: KI
authors.lastname: Yamaki
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007002:Hypoglossal Nerve / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D008036:Lingual Nerve / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
keywords: Cadaver; Hypoglossal nerve; Lingual nerve; Lingual nerve injuries