Stylohyoid ligament

The stylohyoid ligament is a ligament that extends between the hyoid bone, and the temporal styloid process (of the temporal bone of the skull).

Anatomy

Attachments

It attaches at the lesser horn of hyoid bone inferiorly, and (the apex of) the styloid process of the temporal bone superiorly.

The ligament gives attachment to the superior-most fibres of the middle pharyngeal constrictor muscle.

Relations

The ligament is adjacent to the lateral wall of the oropharynx.

Inferiorly, it is adjacent to th hyoglossus.

Clinical significance

The stylohyoid ligament frequently contains a little cartilage in its center, which is sometimes partially ossified in Eagle syndrome.

Other animals

In many animals, the epihyal is a distinct bone in the centre of the stylohyoid ligament, which is similar to that seen in Eagle syndrome.

References

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

Additional images

External links

• Diagram at occup-med.com
• "Anatomy diagram: 25420.000-1". Roche Lexicon - illustrated navigator. Elsevier. Archived from the original on 2015-02-26.

1. Eagle syndrome
2. Stylohyoid muscle
3. Pharyngeal arch
4. Temporal styloid process
5. Hyoid bone
6. Oral and maxillofacial pathology
7. Fibrous joint
8. Joint
9. Middle pharyngeal constrictor muscle
10. Tonsil stones
11. Internal carotid artery
12. Periodontal fiber
13. Cementum
14. Skull
15. Periodontium
16. Dental alveolus
17. Sagittal suture
18. Squamosal suture
19. Coronal suture
20. Hyoglossus