FUNCTION: motor

The hypoglossal nerve arises as a purely motor nerve from the medulla and leaves the skull through the HYPOGLOSSAL CANAL. Interestingly, CN XII is joined temporarily by fibers from spinal nerves C1 and C2, which form the superior limb of the ansa cervicalis. CN XII supplies motor innervation to all of the muscles of the tongue except palatoglossus (supplied by vagus).