Diseases

Hypoglossal Nerve Diseases

Diseases of the twelfth cranial (hypoglossal) nerve or nuclei. The nuclei and fascicles of the nerve are located in the medulla, and the nerve exits the skull via the hypoglossal foramen and innervates the muscles of the tongue. Lower brain stem diseases, including ischemia and MOTOR NEURON DISEASES may affect the nuclei or nerve fascicles. The nerve may also be injured by diseases of the posterior fossa or skull base. Clinical manifestations include unilateral weakness of tongue musculature and lingual dysarthria, with deviation of the tongue towards the side of weakness upon attempted protrusion.

National Library of MedicineMedical Subject Headings2026

Structured Summary

Abstract

Diseases of the twelfth cranial (hypoglossal) nerve or nuclei. The nuclei and fascicles of the nerve are located in the medulla, and the nerve exits the skull via the hypoglossal foramen and innervates the muscles of the tongue. Lower brain stem diseases, including ischemia and MOTOR NEURON DISEASES may affect the nuclei or nerve fascicles. The nerve may also be injured by diseases of the posterior fossa or skull base. Clinical manifestations include unilateral weakness of tongue musculature and lingual dysarthria, with deviation of the tongue towards the side of weakness upon attempted protrusion.

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Classification

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See Also

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Synonyms

17 entry terms
  • Cranial Nerve XII Diseases
  • Cranial Nerve XII Disorders
  • Twelfth Cranial Nerve Diseases
  • Twelfth Cranial Nerve Disorder
  • Hypoglossal Nerve Disease
  • Hypoglossal Nerve Palsy
  • Hypoglossal Neuralgia
  • Hypoglossal Neuropathy
  • Hypoglossal Nerve Palsies
  • Hypoglossal Neuralgias
  • Hypoglossal Neuropathies
  • Neuralgia, Hypoglossal
  • Neuralgias, Hypoglossal
  • Neuropathies, Hypoglossal
  • Neuropathy, Hypoglossal
  • Palsies, Hypoglossal Nerve
  • Palsy, Hypoglossal Nerve

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Aspects Covered

35 allowable subheadings

Indexed with the subheadings blood, cerebrospinal fluid, chemically induced, classification, complications, congenital, diagnosis, diagnostic imaging, diet therapy, drug therapy, economics, embryology, enzymology, epidemiology, ethnology, etiology, genetics, history, immunology, metabolism, microbiology, mortality, nursing, parasitology, pathology, physiopathology, prevention & control, psychology, radiotherapy, rehabilitation, surgery, therapy, urine, veterinary, virology.

MeSH Record

Indexing Annotation

neopl: coord IM with CRANIAL NERVE NEOPLASMS (IM) + histol type of neopl (IM)

MeSH Record

History Note

2000

MeSH Record

Previous Indexing

  • Cranial Nerve Diseases (1981-1999)
  • Hypoglossal Nerve (1965-1980)
  • Peripheral Nervous System Diseases (1966-1980)

MeSH Hierarchy

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AMA Style

References

  1. National Library of Medicine. Hypoglossal Nerve Diseases. Medical Subject Headings (MeSH). 2026. Unique ID D020437. http://id.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/2026/D020437
  2. Hypoglossal Nerve Diseases. In: Wikidata. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q18554612