Stylohyoid muscle

The stylohyoid muscle is one of the

Structure

The stylohyoid is a slender muscle.^[2] It is directed inferoanteriorly from its origin towards its insertion.^[3]

It is perforated near its insertion by the intermediate tendon of the digastric muscle.^[3]

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.^[3]

Insertion

The muscle inserts onto the

The site of insertion is situated immediately superior to that of the superior belly of omohyoid muscle.^[3]

Vasculature

The stylohyoid muscle receives arterial supply branches of the facial artery, posterior auricular artery, and occipital artery.^[3]

Innervation

The stylohyoid muscle receives motor innervation from the stylohyoid branch of facial nerve (CN VII).^[3]

Relations

The muscle is situated

It may be absent or doubled. It may be situated medial to the carotid artery. It may insert suprahyoid muscles of infrahyoid muscles.^[3]

Actions/movements

The stylohyoid muscle elevates and retracts the hyoid bone (i.e. draws it superiorly and posteriorly).^[3]

Function

This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (January 2018)

The stylohyoid muscle elongates the floor of the mouth.^[3] It initiates a swallowing.^{[citation needed]}

Additional images

• 
  Left temporal bone. Outer surface.
• 
  Hyoid bone. Anterior surface. Enlarged.
• 
  Superficial dissection of the right side of the neck, showing the carotid and subclavian arteries.
• 
  Extrinsic muscles of the tongue. Left side.
• 
  Stylohyoid muscle
• 
  Stylohyoid muscle

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)