Stylohyoid muscle

The stylohyoid muscle is one of the suprahyoid muscles. Its originates from the styloid process of the temporal bone; it inserts onto hyoid bone. It is innervated by a branch of the facial nerve. It acts draw the hyoid bone upwards and backwards.

Structure

The stylohyoid is a slender muscle. It is directed inferoanteriorly from its origin towards its insertion.

It is perforated near its insertion by the intermediate tendon of the digastric muscle.

Origin

The muscle arises from the posterior surface of the temporal styloid process; it arises near the base of the process. It arises by a small tendon of origin.

Insertion

The muscle inserts onto the body of hyoid bone at the junction of the body and greater cornu.

The site of insertion is situated immediately superior to that of the superior belly of omohyoid muscle.

Vasculature

The stylohyoid muscle receives arterial supply branches of the facial artery, posterior auricular artery, and occipital artery.

Innervation

The stylohyoid muscle receives motor innervation from the stylohyoid branch of facial nerve (CN VII).

Relations

The muscle is situated anterosuperior to the posterior belly of the digastric muscle.

Variation

It may be absent or doubled. It may be situated medial to the carotid artery. It may insert suprahyoid muscles of infrahyoid muscles.

Actions/movements

The stylohyoid muscle elevates and retracts the hyoid bone (i.e. draws it superiorly and posteriorly).

Function

The stylohyoid muscle elongates the floor of the mouth. It initiates a swallowing.

Additional images

See also

• Stylohyoid ligament

References

This article incorporates text in the public domain from page 392 of the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)

External links

Anatomy figure: 34:02-04 at Human Anatomy Online, SUNY Downstate Medical Center

1. Stylohyoid branch of facial nerve
2. Cervical lymph nodes
3. Hyoid bone
4. Suprahyoid muscles
5. Facial nerve
6. Facial muscles
7. Posterior auricular artery
8. Pharyngeal arch
9. Stylopharyngeus muscle
10. Middle pharyngeal constrictor muscle
11. Internal carotid artery
12. List of skeletal muscles of the human body
13. Temporal styloid process
14. Stylohyoid ligament
15. Articulatory phonetics
16. Neck
17. Table of cranial nerves
18. Larynx
19. Ejective consonant
20. Neck dissection