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Communicating branches between lingual and hypoglossal nerve: observation using Sihler’s staining technique

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Abstract

Purpose

Many dental procedures are at risk of injuring the lingual nerve. We performed this study to better elucidate the microanatomy that exists between the ipsilateral lingual and hypoglossal nerves so that iatrogenic injury can be avoided.

Methods

Adult human cadaveric tongues (ten sides) underwent Sihler’s staining to identify the microanatomy between the lingual and hypoglossal nerves.

Results

The lingual nerve entered the middle part of the anterior two-thirds of the tongue from its lateral side and divided into two to four thick branches. These branches were then disseminated to the anterior, middle, and posterior parts of the anterior two-thirds of the tongue via 7–14 thin nerve bundles as terminal branches. The hypoglossal nerve entered the tongue at the posterior border of its anterior two-thirds and traveled forward to the apex of the tongue on all sides. All specimens were found to have communicating branches between the lingual and hypoglossal nerves at its anterior, middle, and posterior thirds.

Conclusions

Our results indicate that the ipsilateral lingual and hypoglossal nerves constantly have three connections on each side between them. This knowledge might aid the dentist in minimizing iatrogenic nerve injury.

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Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank the individuals who donated their bodies and tissues for the advancement of education and research.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anatomy, Kurume University School of Medicine, 67 Asahi-machi, Kurume, Fukuoka, 830-0011, Japan

    Joe Iwanaga, Koichi Watanabe, Tsuyoshi Saga, Yoko Tabira & Koh-ichi Yamaki

  2. Dental and Oral Medical Center, Kurume University School of Medicine, 67 Asahi-machi, Kurume, Fukuoka, 830-0011, Japan

    Joe Iwanaga, Moriyoshi Nakamura & Jingo Kusukawa

  3. Seattle Science Foundation, 550 17th Avenue, Suite 600, Seattle, WA, 98122, USA

    Joe Iwanaga, Christian Fisahn & R. Shane Tubbs

  4. Neuroscience Institute, Swedish Medical Center, 550 17th Avenue, Suite 600, Seattle, WA, 98122, USA

    Christian Fisahn

Authors
  1. Joe Iwanaga
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  2. Koichi Watanabe
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  3. Tsuyoshi Saga
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  4. Yoko Tabira
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  5. Moriyoshi Nakamura
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  6. Christian Fisahn
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  7. R. Shane Tubbs
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  8. Jingo Kusukawa
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  9. Koh-ichi Yamaki
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Joe Iwanaga.

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Conflict of interest

The authors have not received any funding or Grant for this work from organizations or foundations. The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

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Iwanaga, J., Watanabe, K., Saga, T. et al. Communicating branches between lingual and hypoglossal nerve: observation using Sihler’s staining technique. Surg Radiol Anat 39, 741–745 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00276-016-1789-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00276-016-1789-4

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