genioglossus genioglossus the genioglossus is one of the paired extrinsic muscles of the tongue. it is a fan-shaped muscle that comprises the bulk of the body of the tongue. it arises from the mental spine of the mandible; it inserts onto the hyoid bone, and the bottom of the tongue. it is innervated by the hypoglossal nerve (cranial nerve xii). the genioglossus is the major muscle responsible for protruding (or sticking out) the tongue. genioglossusextrinsic muscles of the tongue. left side.muscles of the tongue from below, with genioglossus visible at topdetailsoriginsuperior part of mental spine of mandible (symphysis menti)insertionunderside of tongue and body of hyoidarterylingual arterynervehypoglossal nerveactionsinferior fibers protrude the tongue, middle fibers depress the tongue, and its superior fibers draw the tip back and downidentifierslatinmusculus genioglossusta98a05.1.04.101ta22117fma46690anatomical terms of muscle structure genioglossus is the fan-shaped extrinsic tongue muscle that forms the majority of the body of the tongue. origin it arises from the mental spine of the mandible. insertion its insertions are the hyoid bone and the bottom of the tongue. innervation the genioglossus is innervated by the hypoglossal nerve, as are all muscles of the tongue except for the palatoglossus. blood supply blood is supplied to the sublingual branch of the lingual artery, a branch of the external carotid artery. function the left and right genioglossus muscles protrude the tongue and deviate it towards the opposite side. when acting together, the muscles depress the center of the tongue at its back. clinical significance contraction of the genioglossus stabilizes and enlarges the portion of the upper airway that is most vulnerable to collapse. relaxation of the genioglossus and geniohyoideus muscles, especially during rem sleep, is implicated in obstructive sleep apnea. given this connection, the mandible can be pulled forward to maximise the airway space, and prevent the tongue from sinking backwards under anaesthesia and obstructing the airway. the genioglossus is often used as a proxy to test the function of the hypoglossal nerve, by asking a patient to stick out their tongue. peripheral damage to the hypoglossal nerve can result in deviation of the tongue to the damaged side. history the name derives from the greek words γένειον (geneion) meaning "chin", and γλῶσσα (glōssa) meaning "tongue." the earliest recorded mention is by helkiah crooke in the early seventeenth century. other animals the canine genioglossus muscle has been divided into horizontal and oblique compartments.