Hyoglossus Muscle Visible in a Sagittal Section of the Male Head and Neck

Description

Running in a parasagittal section of the male head and neck, the hyoglossus is presented as a quadrilateral extrinsic tongue muscle rising from the greater horn (cornu majus) and adjacent body of the hyoid bone toward the lateral aspect of the tongue. Superiorly, its fibers blend into the tongue mass deep to the oral mucosa, while inferiorly it anchors at the suprahyoid level just above the laryngeal framework. The skull base, mandible with dentition, nasal cavity, and a profile view of the cervical spine provide bony reference points, keeping the floor of mouth and hyoid position clear in relation to the mandibular body anteriorly and the cervical vertebrae posteriorly. Orientation is unambiguous. For surgical anatomy, this muscle matters because it forms a landmark in the submandibular region and on the lateral tongue, where the lingual artery typically courses deep (medial) to hyoglossus while the hypoglossal nerve (CN XII) runs superficial (lateral) to it before entering the tongue. That relationship guides safe dissection for control of hemorrhage from the lingual artery and helps explain iatrogenic hypoglossal palsy after submandibular gland surgery or deep floor-of-mouth procedures. The sagittal slice also clarifies how hyoglossus depresses the tongue and can tether tongue mobility in post-radiation fibrosis or after oncologic reconstruction. Use this artwork for head and neck anatomy teaching in dental, speech-language pathology, and otolaryngology curricula, and for atlas figures that need a clean sagittal reference of extrinsic tongue musculature against the hyoid and craniofacial skeleton. It also fits operative notes, patient education, and manuscripts discussing floor-of-mouth approaches, lingual artery ligation, or tongue cancer staging landmarks. Anatomical accuracy verified by SciePro's Medical Advisory Board.