What effect is seen in the tongue when there is a hypoglossal nerve paralysis?

When there is hypoglossal nerve paralysis, the characteristic effect observed is that the tongue points towards the affected side. This occurs because the hypoglossal nerve is responsible for controlling the movements of the tongue muscles. When there is paralysis on one side, the muscles on that side are weakened or cannot function properly, resulting in loss of movement.

As a result, when a person attempts to protrude their tongue, the unaffected muscles on the stronger side continue to work and push the tongue towards the weaker side, where the nerve is affected. This leads to the tongue deviating towards the side that is affected by the nerve damage. Understanding this mechanism is critical in clinical practice as it aids in diagnosing neurological conditions and assessing the extent of nerve damage.