Question
Following a penetrated injury in the submandibular triangle, the tongue of a 45-year-old patient deviates to the left on protrusion. Which of the following nerve is injured?
| A. |
Right lingual nerve
|
| B. |
Left lingual nerve
|
| C. |
Right hypoglossal nerve
|
| D. |
Left hypoglossal nerve
|
Show Answer
|
Correct Answer � D
Explanation
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|
A lesion of the hypoglossal nerve causes deviation of the tongue toward the injured side on protrusion.
Hypoglossal Nerve Palsy
- Damage to the hypoglossal nerve is a relatively uncommon cranial nerve palsy.
- Possible causes include head & neck malignancy and penetrating traumatic injuries.
- If the symptoms are accompanied by acute pain, a possible cause may be dissection of the internal carotid artery.
- Patients will present with deviation of the tongue towards the damaged side on protrusion, as well as possible muscle wasting and fasciculations (twitching of isolated groups of muscle fibers) on the affected side.
