The stylomandibular ligament is the thickened posterior portion of the investing cervical fascia around the neck. It extends from near the apex of the styloid process of the

temporal bone The temporal bone is a paired bone situated at the sides and base of the skull, lateral to the temporal lobe of the cerebral cortex. The temporal bones are overlaid by the sides of the head known as the temples where four of the cranial bone ...

to the angle and posterior border of the

angle of the mandible __NOTOC__ The angle of the mandible (a.k.a. gonial angle, Masseteric Tuberosity, and Masseteric Insertion) is located at the posterior border at the junction of the lower border of the ramus of the mandible. The angle of the mandible, which may ...

, between the

masseter muscle In anatomy, the masseter is one of the muscles of mastication. Found only in mammals, it is particularly powerful in herbivores to facilitate chewing of plant matter. The most obvious muscle of mastication is the masseter muscle, since it is the ...

and

medial pterygoid muscle The medial pterygoid muscle (or internal pterygoid muscle) is a thick, quadrilateral muscle of the face. It is supplied by the mandibular branch of the trigeminal nerve (V). It is important in mastication (chewing). Structure The medial pter ...

. The stylomandibular ligament limits mandibular movements, such as preventing excessive opening.

Structure

The stylomandibular ligament extends from near the apex of the styloid process of the

to the angle and posterior border of the

, between the

and

. From its deep surface, some fibers of the styloglossus muscle originate. Although classed among the ligaments of the

temporomandibular joint In anatomy, the temporomandibular joints (TMJ) are the two joints connecting the jawbone to the skull. It is a bilateral Synovial joint, synovial articulation between the temporal bone of the skull above and the condylar process of mandible be ...

, it can only be considered as accessory to it.

Function

The stylomandibular ligament, along with the

sphenomandibular ligament The sphenomandibular ligament (internal lateral ligament) is one of the three ligaments of the temporomandibular joint. It is situated medially to - and generally separate from - the articular capsule of the joint. Superiorly, it is attached to th ...

, limits mandibular movements, such as preventing excessive opening.

Clinical significance

The stylomandibular ligament is important for maintaining stability of the

mandible In jawed vertebrates, the mandible (from the Latin ''mandibula'', 'for chewing'), lower jaw, or jawbone is a bone that makes up the lowerand typically more mobilecomponent of the mouth (the upper jaw being known as the maxilla). The jawbone i ...

after maxillofacial surgery.

References

External links

* Ligaments of the head and neck {{ligament-stub