After exiting the skull through the jugular foramen, the glossopharyngeal nerve [IX] descends on the posterior surface of the stylopharyngeus muscle (Fig. 8.208B), passes onto the lateral surface of the stylopharyngeus, and then passes anteriorly through the gap (oropharyngeal triangle) between the superior constrictor, middle constrictor, and mylohyoid muscles to eventually reach the posterior aspect of the tongue.