Which muscle ELEVATES the tongue?

Correct answer: D. Styloglossus

• A. Hyoglossus DEPRESSES the tongue, drawing its sides downward toward the hyoid.
• B. Palatopharyngeus elevates the pharynx and larynx during swallowing and forms the POSTERIOR tonsillar pillar. It is not a muscle of the tongue.
• C. Genioglossus is the PROTRUDER — the so-called safety muscle of the tongue, since it pulls the tongue forward and prevents it obstructing the airway. Bilateral action protrudes; unilateral paralysis makes the tongue deviate TOWARD the affected side on protrusion.
• D. CORRECT. STYLOGLOSSUS runs from the styloid process to the side of the tongue and both ELEVATES and RETRACTS it — the movement that initiates swallowing. PALATOGLOSSUS also elevates, specifically the POSTERIOR part of the tongue, and it is the one extrinsic tongue muscle NOT supplied by the hypoglossal nerve; it is innervated by the vagus through the pharyngeal plexus, because functionally it belongs to the soft palate.

Note: The four extrinsic muscles by function: genioglossus PROTRUDES, hyoglossus DEPRESSES, styloglossus ELEVATES and retracts, palatoglossus elevates the POSTERIOR tongue. The INTRINSIC muscles change the tongue's shape rather than its position — superior and inferior longitudinal shorten it and curl the tip, the TRANSVERSE narrows and lengthens it, and the vertical flattens and widens it. All the intrinsics and all the extrinsics except palatoglossus are supplied by CN XII.