A 12-year-old girl is having a physical examination prior to the beginning of the school year. When she is asked to stick out her tongue, the physician notices that her tongue deviates to the right. Which of the following represents the most likely location of the lesion in this patient?
A) Glossopharyngeal nerve root
B) Facial nerve root
C) Trigeminal motor nerve root
D) Abducens nerve root
E) Hypoglossal nerve root

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The hypoglossal nerve (cranial nerve XII) innervates the muscles of the tongue. A lesion in the hypoglossal nerve or its root would lead to weakness or paralysis of the tongue muscles on the affected side, causing the tongue to deviate towards the side of the lesion when protruded.

A 12-Year-Old Girl Is Having a Physical Examination Prior to the Beginning