Genioglossus Innervation — MFDS Part 1 MCQ
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Correct answer: A — Hypoglossal nerve (XII)
The genioglossus is an extrinsic muscle of the tongue and receives motor innervation from the hypoglossal nerve (cranial nerve XII). The hypoglossal nerve supplies all intrinsic tongue muscles and the genioglossus, hyoglossus and styloglossus; palatoglossus is the principal exception and is supplied through the pharyngeal plexus by the vagus nerve. The lingual nerve provides general sensation to the anterior two-thirds of the tongue but does not supply genioglossus motor function. The glossopharyngeal nerve supplies sensation and taste to the posterior third and motor fibres to stylopharyngeus. The facial nerve carries taste fibres through the chorda tympani, while the vagus supplies palatoglossus rather than genioglossus.
Reference: Costa RDS et al. The Hypoglossal Nerve. Seminars in Ultrasound, CT and MRI. 2023;44(2):104–114. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37055141/