Cranial Nerve XII: Hypoglossal Nerve

Question 1

Motor function

Answer 1

innervates muscles of tongue.

Question 2

What results from damage?

Answer 2

clinically, damage produces paralysis of the tongue on the side of damage

Question 3

What does paralysis of both sides of the tongue usually indicate?

Answer 3

generally indicates damage to the medullary nuclei from which CN XII originates, as opposed to damage to the nerves themselves.