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hypoglossal

American  
[hahy-puh-glos-uhl, -glaw-suhl] / ˌhaɪ pəˈglɒs əl, -ˈglɔ səl /

adjective

  1. situated under the tongue.

noun

  1. hypoglossal nerve.

hypoglossal British  
/ ˌhaɪpəˈɡlɒsəl /

adjective

  1. situated beneath the tongue

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

noun

  1. short for hypoglossal nerve

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of hypoglossal

1825–35; hypo- + Greek glôss ( a ) tongue ( see gloss 2) + -al 1

Vocabulary lists containing hypoglossal

Florida's B.E.S.T. Roots: hypo

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Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The test for hypoglossal function is the “stick out your tongue” part of the exam.

From Textbooks • Jun. 19, 2013

Openings here include the large foramen magnum, plus the internal acoustic meatus, jugular foramina, and hypoglossal canals.

From Textbooks • Jun. 19, 2013

The hypoglossal nerve is the motor nerve that controls the muscles of the tongue, except for the palatoglossus muscle, which is controlled by the vagus nerve.

From Textbooks • Jun. 19, 2013

Located at the anterior-lateral margin of the foramen magnum is the hypoglossal canal.

From Textbooks • Jun. 19, 2013

The hypoglossal is very distinctly seen on opening the skin beneath the hyoid plate.

From Text Book of Biology, Part 1: Vertebrata by Wells, H. G. (Herbert George)

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.