Anatomy nerves swallowing process

Illustrations of the nerves involved in the swallowing process and the muscles they innervate.

Anatomical illustrations of the origin and course of the nerves involved in the swallowing process and the muscles they innervate.

The trigeminal nerve is the fifth cranial nerve (N. V) and innervates the mylohyoideus, digastricus anterior, temporal, masseter, pterygoid medial and lateral muscles, tensor tympani, tensor veli palatini, the teeth of the mandible, the posterior part of the tongue, and the lower lip.

The facial nerve is the seventh cranial nerve (N. VII) and innervates the orbicularis oris muscle, buccinator muscle, stylohyoid muscle, and digastricus posterior muscle.

The hypoglossal nerve is the 12th cranial nerve (N. XII) and innervates M. styloglossus , M. genioglossus, M. hyoglossus and the tongue (glossus).

The spinal nerves C1, C2 and C3 also innervate muscles involved in the swallowing process. Specifically, the omohyoid, thyrohyoid, sternohyoid, and sternothyroid muscles.

The illustrations are based on existing illustrations by Heike Blum.

Project details: 

Content: 5 illustrations

Utilization: Medical textbook

Specifications: DIN A5

Client:  University Hospital Münster – Dr. Dziewas + Dr. Warnecke

The rights of use of the images shown here belong to the client, use is not permitted. The images are protected with watermarks.

nervus facialis  course innervation

Origin, course and innervation facial nerve

nervus hypoglossus course innervation

Origin, course and innervation hypoglossal nerve

anatomy nerve trigeminus innervation muscle superficial

Origin, course and innervation of the superficial trigeminal nerve muscles.

spinal nerves c1 c2 c3 innervated muscles

Illustration of the muscles innervated by spinal nerves C1 to C3.

Trigeminal nerve and innervated muscles
Trigeminal nerve and innervated muscles