Which nerve is related to the control of the tongue?

The hypoglossal nerve is primarily responsible for the motor control of the tongue. It innervates all the intrinsic and most of the extrinsic muscles of the tongue, facilitating movements necessary for actions such as speaking, eating, and swallowing. This nerve plays a crucial role in articulating speech and manipulating food within the mouth, making it vital for proper tongue function.

While the vagal nerve contributes to voice through innervation of the muscles of the larynx and pharynx, it does not directly control tongue movement. The trigeminal nerve primarily provides sensory innervation to the face and the anterior two-thirds of the tongue but does not play a significant role in motor control. The glossopharyngeal nerve is involved in taste sensation from the posterior third of the tongue and also performs some motor functions in the pharynx but does not primarily control the tongue’s movements. Thus, the hypoglossal nerve is unequivocally the key nerve associated with controlling the movements of the tongue.