The temporal styloid process is a slender bony

process A process is a series or set of activities that interact to produce a result; it may occur once-only or be recurrent or periodic. Things called a process include: Business and management * Business process, activities that produce a specific s ...

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 ...

extending downward and forward from the undersurface of the

just below the ear. The styloid process gives attachments to several muscles, and ligaments.

Structure

The styloid process is a slender and pointed bony process of the temporal bone projecting anteroinferiorly from the inferior surface of the

just below the ear. Its length normally ranges from just under 3 cm to just over 4 cm. It is usually nearly straight, but may be curved in some individuals. Its ''proximal'' (''tympanohyal'') ''part'' is ensheathed by the tympanic part of the temporal bone ''(vaginal process), whereas'' its ''distal (stylohyal)'' ''part'' gives attachment to several structures.

Attachments

The styloid process gives attachments to several muscles, and ligaments. It serves as an anchor point for several muscles associated with the

tongue The tongue is a Muscle, muscular organ (anatomy), organ in the mouth of a typical tetrapod. It manipulates food for chewing and swallowing as part of the digestive system, digestive process, and is the primary organ of taste. The tongue's upper s ...

and

larynx The larynx (), commonly called the voice box, is an organ (anatomy), organ in the top of the neck involved in breathing, producing sound and protecting the trachea against food aspiration. The opening of larynx into pharynx known as the laryngeal ...

. * stylohyoid ligament * stylomandibular ligament * styloglossus muscle (innervated by the

hypoglossal nerve The hypoglossal nerve, also known as the twelfth cranial nerve, cranial nerve XII, or simply CN XII, is a cranial nerve that innervates all the extrinsic and intrinsic muscles of the tongue except for the palatoglossus, which is innervated b ...

) * stylohyoid muscle (innervated 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 ta ...

) * stylopharyngeus muscle (innervated by the

glossopharyngeal nerve The glossopharyngeal nerve (), also known as the ninth cranial nerve, cranial nerve IX, or simply CN IX, is a cranial nerve that exits the brainstem from the sides of the upper Medulla oblongata, medulla, just anterior (closer to the nose) to t ...

)

Relations

The parotid gland is situated laterally to the styloid process, the external carotid artery passes by its apex, the facial nerve crosses its base, and the attachment of the stylopharyngeus muscle separates it from the internal jugular vein medially.

Development

The styloid process arises from

endochondral ossification Endochondral ossification is one of the two essential pathways by which bone tissue is produced during fetal development and bone healing, bone repair of the mammalian skeleton, skeletal system, the other pathway being intramembranous ossificatio ...

of the

cartilage Cartilage is a resilient and smooth type of connective tissue. Semi-transparent and non-porous, it is usually covered by a tough and fibrous membrane called perichondrium. In tetrapods, it covers and protects the ends of long bones at the joints ...

from the second

pharyngeal arch The pharyngeal arches, also known as visceral arches'','' are transient structures seen in the Animal embryonic development, embryonic development of humans and other vertebrates, that are recognisable precursors for many structures. In fish, t ...

Clinical significance

A small percentage of the population will suffer from an elongation of the styloid process and stylohyoid ligament calcification. This condition is also known as Eagle syndrome. The tissues in the throat rub on the styloid process during the act of swallowing with resulting pain along the glossopharyngeal nerve. There is also pain upon turning the head or extending the tongue. Other symptoms may include voice alteration, cough, dizziness, migraines, occipital neuralgia, pain in teeth and jaw and sinusitis or bloodshot eyes.

Additional images

File:Styloid process of temporal bone - animation02.gif, Animation. Temporal styloid process shown in red. File:Styloid process of left temporal bone - animation.gif, Left temporal bone. File:Styloid process of left temporal bone - inferior view.png, Inferior surface of left temporal bone. Styloid process shown in red. File:Gray907.png, External and middle ear, opened from the front. Right side. (Label for styloid process is bottom center.) File:Gray137.png, Left

. Outer surface. (Styloid process visible at center bottom.) File:Gray310.png, Articulation of the mandible. Medial aspect. File:Gray1019.png, Extrinsic muscles of the tongue. Left side. File:Gray1028.png, Dissection of the muscles of the palate from behind. File:Slide2JAN.JPG, Styloid process. Base of skull.

References

External links

* * * Bones of the head and neck {{musculoskeletal-stub Otorhinolaryngology Human head and neck Skull