**Core Concept**
The muscles of the tongue are a group of extrinsic and intrinsic muscles responsible for its movement and function. The extrinsic muscles originate from outside the tongue and attach to it, while the intrinsic muscles originate and insert within the tongue itself.
**Why the Correct Answer is Right**
The correct answer is related to the anatomy of the styloglossus muscle. The styloglossus muscle is one of the extrinsic muscles of the tongue and is responsible for its retraction. It arises from the styloid process and the side of the tongue. The styloglossus muscle inserts into the dorsum of the tongue, which is the top surface. This action helps to pull the tongue posteriorly.
**Why Each Wrong Option is Incorrect**
**Option A:** The palatoglossus muscle arises from the palatine aponeurosis and descends in the palatoglossal arch, but this statement is incomplete regarding its origin. It actually arises from the side of the oral surface of the tongue and the palatine aponeurosis.
**Option B:** The hyoglossus muscle depresses and retracts the tongue, but it does not protrude it forwards. The genioglossus muscle is responsible for protruding the tongue.
**Option C:** The genioglossus muscle arises from the upper genial tubercle of the mandible, but its upper fibers do not retract the tongue. The upper fibers of the genioglossus muscle protrude the tongue, while the lower fibers retract it.
**Option E:** The hyoglossus muscle is inserted into the side of the tongue, but it is inserted between the inferior longitudinal muscle and the styloglossus muscle, not between the styloglossus and the inferior longitudinal muscle.
**Clinical Pearl / High-Yield Fact**
The styloglossus muscle plays a crucial role in the retraction of the tongue, which is essential for swallowing and speech. Understanding the anatomy of this muscle is vital for diagnosis and treatment of tongue-related disorders.
**Correct Answer: D. Styloglossus is inserted onto dorsum of tongue**
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