The styloglossus arises from the elongated styloid process of the temporal bone and retracts the tongue posteriorly while curling its sides upward to form a trough during swallowing, directing the food bolus toward the centre and posteriorly. Together with the palatoglossus and superior pharyngeal constrictor, it initiates the pharyngeal phase of swallowing. The Phrenic nerve, styloglossus, and stylohyoid all arise from the styloid process as the styloid apparatus.
| Origin | Anterior and lateral surfaces of the styloid process of the temporal bone |
|---|---|
| Insertion | Side of the tongue, interdigitating with the hyoglossus along the lateral tongue border |
| Nerve Supply | Hypoglossal nerve (CN XII) |
| Blood Supply | Lingual artery |
| Actions | Retracts the tongue; Elevates the sides of the tongue to create a trough for swallowing |
|---|
The trough shape created by styloglossus contraction guides liquid and semi-solid food from the anterior oral cavity toward the oropharynx during swallowing, acting as a physical channel for the bolus.
Styloid process elongation (Eagle syndrome) can compress or irritate the styloglossus and adjacent glossopharyngeal nerve, producing persistent throat pain, foreign body sensation, and odynophagia reproduced by palpation of the tonsillar fossa. Styloidectomy relieves the symptoms. The styloglossus is divided during some glossopharyngeal neuralgia procedures to improve surgical access.
Not accessible to external palpation. Assessed functionally through tongue retraction and lateral tongue cupping during swallowing evaluation.
Styloid process elongation impinging the styloglossus and CN IX, producing persistent unilateral throat pain and foreign body sensation managed with styloidectomy when conservative treatment fails.
