Question

in assessing a stroke patient, you ask her to stick out (protract) her tongue. you note that it deviates to one side. you suspect nerve damage to the ______ muscle has occurred. hyoglossus styloglossus palatoglossus genioglossus none of the answers are correct.

Explanation:

The genioglossus muscle is responsible for protruding (sticking out) the tongue. When there is nerve damage to one side of the genioglossus muscle (usually due to damage to the hypoglossal nerve that innervates it), the tongue will deviate to the side of the damaged muscle. The hyoglossus depresses the tongue, the styloglossus retracts and elevates the tongue, and the palatoglossus elevates the posterior part of the tongue and helps in swallowing. So, nerve damage to the genioglossus muscle would cause the observed deviation when the tongue is protruded.

Answer:

genioglossus