Image Based Question-65219

A 69-year-old man presented for evaluation of an unusual color and decreased mobility on the right side of his tongue. He first noticed these symptoms 2 years previously. The patient had undergone radical dissection of the right side of the neck 7 years earlier for a malignant tumor of the right tonsil.A computed tomographic scan showed atrophy of the right side of the tongue, with fatty infiltration.Intraoral examination of the patient revealed as shown in the picture below.The given condition as shown in the picture below occurs as a result of ?

A. Damage to the hypoglossal nucleus or hypoglossal nerve resulting in denervation atrophy of the tongue.

B. Damage to the 7th nerve.

C. Damage to the 6th nerve.

D. All of the above.

Correct Answer » A Explanation

The hypoglossal nerve (cranial nerve XII) supplies motor innervation to the muscles of the tongue. Damage to the hypoglossal nucleus or hypoglossal nerve can cause denervation atrophy of the tongue, as seen in the patient represented above. During radical neck dissection, the cranial and cervical nerves are at risk for injury.