The styloglossus muscle is one of the four extrinsic muscles of the human tongue. It arises from the styloid process and the stylohyoid ligament. Then it travels down obliquely and anteriorly, between the stylohyoid muscle and the pharynx. As it descends, it adjoins the lateral surface of root of tongue and the upper lateral surface of the hyoglossus muscle.
The thicker upper bundle of the styloglossus runs along the lateral margin of the tongue, all the way forward to its tip. Meanwhile, its thinner lower bundle penetrates the hyoglossus muscle and passes downward at the posterior part of tongue to interlace with the tendinous band of its contralateral muscle. This happens on both lateral sides of tongue, as it is a paired muscle.
Action/Function
The styloglossus muscle pulls the tongue backwards and upwards.
Innervation and blood supply
It is innervated by the hypoglossal nerve and it is supplied with oxygen-rich blood by the sublingual artery, which is a small branch of the lingual.
Down below, illustrative image showing the location of styloglossus in relation to the other muscles of tongue.
