---
title: "Nerve Supply of Tongue"
description: "A detailed explanation of the motor and sensory nerve supply of the tongue - ideal for medical students and ENT residents."
source: "The ENT Resident"
canonical_url: "https://www.theentresident.com/ent-notes-lectures/nerve-supply-tongue"
categories: ["Oral Cavity and Salivary Glands", "Short Questions in ENT"]
video: "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WerP0vmx7Co"
image: "https://media.theentresident.com/og-images/nerve-supply-tongue.png"
---

# Nerve Supply of Tongue

A detailed explanation of the motor and sensory nerve supply of the tongue - ideal for medical students and ENT residents. Watch the full video lecture on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WerP0vmx7Co

## Nerve Supply of the Tongue

Understanding the **nerve supply of the tongue** is a common yet tricky question in viva exams. 

It's essential to approach it in an organized manner by dividing it into:

- **Motor Supply**
- **Sensory Supply**

---

### 🔌 Motor Supply of the Tongue

The **motor supply** of the tongue is further divided into three components:

1. **Somatomotor**
2. **Secretomotor**
3. **Vasomotor**

#### 1. Somatomotor Supply

This refers to the **supply to the muscles of the tongue**.

- All **intrinsic and extrinsic muscles** of the tongue are supplied by the **hypoglossal nerve (CN XII)**.

- 🚨 _**Exception**: The **palatoglossus** muscle is supplied by the **cranial part of the accessory nerve (CN XI)** via the **pharyngeal plexus**._

🔁 **Key Point to Memorize:**

> _All the muscles of the tongue (extrinsic and intrinsic) are supplied by the hypoglossal nerve **except** palatoglossus, which is supplied by the cranial part of the accessory nerve via the pharyngeal plexus._

#### 2. Secretomotor Supply

This refers to the **nerves responsible for glandular secretions** in the tongue.

- Originates from the **superior salivatory nucleus**
- Relays in the **submandibular ganglion**
- **Postganglionic fibers** reach the tongue via the **lingual nerve**

#### 3. Vasomotor Supply

This refers to the **sympathetic supply to blood vessels** of the tongue.

- Derived from **sympathetic nerves** around the **lingual artery**
- These carry **postganglionic fibers** from the **superior cervical ganglion**

---

### 🧷 Sensory Supply of the Tongue

Sensory innervation of the tongue differs for:

- **Anterior two-thirds**
- **Posterior one-third**

This variation is due to their **embryological origin**:

- **Anterior 2/3**: From the **1st pharyngeal arch**
- **Posterior 1/3**: From the **2nd and 3rd pharyngeal arches**

#### ➗ Sensory Supply is of Two Types:

1. General Sensation
2. Special Sensation (Taste)

#### 🔹 Anterior Two-Third

| Type of Sensation | Nerve |
| --- | --- |
| General Sensation | Lingual nerve (CN V3) |
| Special Sensation (Taste) | Chorda tympani (branch of CN VII) via lingual nerve |

#### 🔸 Posterior One-Third

| Type of Sensation | Nerve |
| --- | --- |
| General & Special Sensation | Glossopharyngeal nerve (CN IX) |

---

### 🌸 Special Case: Sensory Supply of the Vallecula

- The **vallecula** is a depression behind the posterior third of the tongue formed by:
  - **Median glossoepiglottic fold**
  - **Lateral glossoepiglottic folds**

- It is **not supplied** by the glossopharyngeal nerve.

- Instead, it's innervated by the **internal laryngeal branch** of the **superior laryngeal nerve (from vagus nerve, CN X)**.

---

### 🧠 Summary Table

| Area | General Sensation | Special Sensation (Taste) | Motor Supply |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Anterior 2/3 of tongue | Lingual nerve (CN V3) | Chorda tympani (CN VII) | Hypoglossal nerve (CN XII) |
| Posterior 1/3 of tongue | Glossopharyngeal nerve (CN IX) | Glossopharyngeal nerve (CN IX) | Hypoglossal nerve (CN XII) |
| Palatoglossus muscle | — | — | Accessory nerve (CN XI) via pharyngeal plexus |
| Vallecula | Internal laryngeal nerve (branch of CN X) | — | — |

---

## About This Note

This note on Nerve Supply of Tongue is one of the free ENT study notes published by The ENT Resident. It is free to read on the website, and it is paired with a full video lecture on YouTube.

This note is categorized under [Oral Cavity and Salivary Glands](https://www.theentresident.com/ent-notes-lectures/category/oral-cavity-and-salivary-glands.md) and [Short Questions in ENT](https://www.theentresident.com/ent-notes-lectures/category/short-questions-in-ent.md). Each category page lists all the free ENT notes on that topic.

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