The stylohyoid muscle is a
slender muscle, lying
anterior and
superior of the posterior belly of the
digastric muscle
The digastric muscle (also digastricus) (named ''digastric'' as it has two 'bellies') is a small muscle located under the jaw. The term "digastric muscle" refers to this specific muscle. However, other muscles that have two separate muscle belli ...
.
It is one of the
suprahyoid muscles.
It shares this muscle's innervation by the
facial nerve
The facial nerve, also known as the seventh cranial nerve, cranial nerve VII, or simply CN VII, is a cranial nerve that emerges from the pons of the brainstem, controls the muscles of facial expression, and functions in the conveyance of taste ...
,
and functions to draw the
hyoid bone backwards and elevate the
tongue
The tongue is a muscular organ in the mouth of a typical tetrapod. It manipulates food for mastication and swallowing as part of the digestive process, and is the primary organ of taste. The tongue's upper surface (dorsum) is covered by taste ...
. Its origin is the styloid process of the
temporal bone
The temporal bones are situated at the sides and base of the skull, and lateral to the temporal lobes of the cerebral cortex.
The temporal bones are overlaid by the sides of the head known as the temples, and house the structures of the ears. ...
. It inserts on the body of the hyoid.
Structure
The stylohyoid muscle originates from the posterior and lateral surface of the
styloid process of the
temporal bone
The temporal bones are situated at the sides and base of the skull, and lateral to the temporal lobes of the cerebral cortex.
The temporal bones are overlaid by the sides of the head known as the temples, and house the structures of the ears. ...
, near the base. Passing inferior and anterior, it inserts into the body of the
hyoid bone, at its junction with the greater cornu, and just superior to the
omohyoid muscle. It belongs to the group of
suprahyoid muscles.
It is perforated, near its insertion, by the intermediate
tendon
A tendon or sinew is a tough, high-tensile-strength band of dense fibrous connective tissue that connects muscle to bone. It is able to transmit the mechanical forces of muscle contraction to the skeletal system without sacrificing its ability ...
of the
digastric muscle
The digastric muscle (also digastricus) (named ''digastric'' as it has two 'bellies') is a small muscle located under the jaw. The term "digastric muscle" refers to this specific muscle. However, other muscles that have two separate muscle belli ...
.
The stylohyoid muscle has vascular supply from the
lingual artery
The lingual artery arises from the external carotid artery between the superior thyroid artery and facial artery. It can be located easily in the tongue.
Structure
The lingual artery first branches off from the external carotid artery. It runs ...
, a branch of the
external carotid artery.
Nerve supply
A branch of the
facial nerve
The facial nerve, also known as the seventh cranial nerve, cranial nerve VII, or simply CN VII, is a cranial nerve that emerges from the pons of the brainstem, controls the muscles of facial expression, and functions in the conveyance of taste ...
(CN VII) innervates the stylohyoid muscle.
Variation
It may be absent or doubled, lie beneath the
carotid artery, or be inserted into the
omohyoid, or
mylohyoid muscles.
Function
The stylohyoid muscle elevates and retracts hyoid bone. It initiates a swallowing action by pulling the hyoid bone in a posterior and superior direction.
Additional images
File:Gray137.png, Left temporal bone. Outer surface.
File:Gray186.png, Hyoid bone. Anterior surface. Enlarged.
File:Gray507.png, Superficial dissection of the right side of the neck, showing the carotid and subclavian arteries.
File:Stylohyoideus.png, Extrinsic muscles of the tongue. Left side.
File:Slide6aaa.JPG, Stylohyoid muscle
File:Slide18aaa.JPG, Stylohyoid muscle
See also
*
Stylohyoid ligament
References
External links
{{Authority control
Facial muscles
Suprahyoid muscles
Muscles of the head and neck