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The suprahyoid muscles are a group of four muscles: the digastric, mylohyoid, geniohyoid, and stylohyoid. They are responsible for elevating the hyoid bone and, when the hyoid bone is fixed, they are responsible for mandibular depression and retrusion of the mandible during the
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of suprahyoid muscles | Four |
| Names of the four suprahyoid muscles | Mylohyoid, Geniohyoid, Stylohyoid, and Digastric |
| Function | Elevate the hyoid bone, mandibular depression and retrusion of the mandible during opening of the mouth, chewing, and swallowing |
| Role in jaw opening | Reinforce jaw opening |
| Training | High-speed jaw-opening exercises, isometric exercises |
| Effect of training | Increased elevation velocity of the hyoid bone during swallowing, strengthening of fast-twitch muscle fibers, improved swallowing function |
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What You'll Learn
Suprahyoid muscles elevate the hyoid bone
The suprahyoid muscles are a group of four muscles located superior to the hyoid bone in the neck. They include the digastric, mylohyoid, geniohyoid, and stylohyoid muscles. These muscles work together to elevate the hyoid bone, which is an important action involved in swallowing.
The digastric muscle, which consists of two bellies connected by a tendon, pulls upward on the hyoid bone. When the hyoid bone is fixed, the digastric muscle assists in extreme mouth opening, such as yawning or taking a large bite. The mylohyoid muscle also helps to elevate the hyoid bone and is involved in tensing the floor of the mouth. Additionally, it plays a role in elevating the tongue, which aids in deglutition and speaking.
The geniohyoid muscle brings the hyoid bone forward and upward, shortening the floor of the mouth and widening the pharynx during swallowing. This action helps to widen the airway passage, which is crucial for breathing. The stylohyoid muscle elevates and retracts the hyoid bone, elongating the floor of the mouth, which is particularly important during swallowing.
The suprahyoid muscles work in conjunction with the infrahyoid muscles to stabilize the hyoid bone and control mandibular positions, jaw motions, and tongue movement during speech and swallowing. While the suprahyoid muscles elevate the hyoid bone and pull the lower jaw beneath, the infrahyoid muscles hold the level of the hyoid bone constant and limit its upward movement.
High-speed jaw-opening exercises have been found to effectively strengthen the fast-twitch muscle fibers of the suprahyoid muscles, leading to increased elevation of the hyoid bone during swallowing. These exercises have been suggested to be beneficial for elderly individuals with a lower position of the hyoid bone at rest, helping to improve their swallowing function.
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They reinforce jaw opening
The suprahyoid muscles reinforce jaw opening. They include the digastric, mylohyoid, geniohyoid, and stylohyoid muscles. These muscles work to elevate the hyoid bone, and when the hyoid bone is fixed, the suprahyoid muscles are responsible for mandibular depression and retrusion of the mandible during the opening of the mouth. The digastric and mylohyoid muscles can elevate the hyoid, the tongue, and the floor of the mouth, which is important during swallowing and speaking. The geniohyoid muscle brings the hyoid bone forward and upwards.
The suprahyoid muscles work in conjunction with the infrahyoid muscles to stabilize the hyoid bone. While the suprahyoid muscles pull the lower jaw beneath and the hyoid bone backward to provide mouth opening, the infrahyoid muscles hold the level of the hyoid bone constant and control or limit the upward movement of the hyoid bone. Together, these muscles control mandibular positions, jaw motions, hyoid movements, and tongue movement during speech and swallowing.
High-speed jaw-opening exercises have been shown to be effective in strengthening the fast-twitch muscle fibers of the suprahyoid muscles. These exercises can improve the elevation velocity of the hyoid bone during swallowing, which may be especially beneficial for elderly individuals with a lower position of the hyoid bone at rest and those with a decreased elevation of the hyoid bone during swallowing, as these factors are associated with an increased risk of aspiration.
Isometric jaw-opening exercises, where the jaw is opened to its maximum and maintained for 10 seconds, have also been found to be effective in training the suprahyoid muscles. These exercises can elevate the hyoid bone, improve the opening of the upper esophageal sphincter (UES), and decrease the pharyngeal transit time.
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They work with infrahyoid muscles to control tongue movement
The suprahyoid muscles work with the infrahyoid muscles to control tongue movement. The infrahyoid muscles include thyrohyoid, sternothyroid, sternohyoid, and omohyoid. All of these muscles arise inferiorly to the hyoid bone and insert to the sternum, the thyroid cartilage, and the scapula.
The infrahyoid muscles work in conjunction with the suprahyoid muscles to stabilize the hyoid bone. The suprahyoid muscles pull the lower jaw beneath and the hyoid bone backward to provide mouth opening, while the infrahyoid muscles hold the level of the hyoid bone constant and control or limit its upward movement. Together, these muscles control mandibular positions, jaw motions, the hyoid movements, and the tongue movement in the function of speech and swallowing.
The suprahyoid muscles include the digastric, mylohyoid, geniohyoid, and stylohyoid muscles. All suprahyoid muscles bring to elevate the hyoid bone, and alternatively when the hyoid bone is fixed, the suprahyoid muscles are responsible for mandibular depression and retrusion of the mandible during the opening of the mouth. The digastric and mylohyoid muscles can elevate the hyoid, the tongue, and the floor of the mouth. This is important during swallowing and speaking.
The hyoid bone is the unique bone that is not connected to any other bone. Its position is determined by the suprahyoid and infrahyoid muscles. The suprahyoid muscles attach the hyoid bone to the mandible, to the tongue, and to the skull. The infrahyoid muscles connect the hyoid bone to the skull, mandible, tongue, thyroid cartilage, manubrium, and scapula.
High-speed jaw-opening exercises have been shown to be effective in improving swallowing function by targeting the contraction of fast-twitch muscle fibers. These exercises have been shown to increase the elevation velocity of the hyoid bone during swallowing, indicating their role in strengthening the fast-twitch muscle fibers of the suprahyoid muscles.
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They are important for swallowing
The suprahyoid muscles are important for swallowing. They include the digastric, mylohyoid, geniohyoid, and stylohyoid muscles. These muscles work to elevate the hyoid bone, which is important for swallowing. If the hyoid bone is fixed, the suprahyoid muscles are responsible for mandibular depression and retrusion of the mandible during mouth opening. The digastric and mylohyoid muscles can elevate the hyoid, the tongue, and the floor of the mouth, which is crucial during swallowing.
The suprahyoid muscles also contribute to bolus formation during mastication. The ratio of suprahyoid muscle activity to the vertical distance of jaw opening is believed to represent the functional role of these muscles in bolus formation. This ratio is thought to differ depending on bolus properties and the masticatory stage.
High-speed jaw-opening exercises have been shown to improve the strength of the fast-twitch muscle fibers of the suprahyoid muscles. These exercises are particularly beneficial for elderly individuals with a lower position of the hyoid bone at rest and those with decreased elevation of the hyoid bone during swallowing, as they are associated with an increased risk of aspiration.
The Shaker exercise is a popular non-invasive treatment for managing dysphagia, which aims to improve the insufficient upper esophageal sphincter (UES) opening during swallowing. Isometric jaw-opening exercises, where the jaw is opened to its maximum and held for 10 seconds, have also been found to be effective in training the suprahyoid muscles.
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They can be strengthened with isometric exercises
The suprahyoid muscles are a group of four muscles: the digastric, mylohyoid, geniohyoid, and stylohyoid. They work to reinforce jaw opening and play a role in chewing and swallowing.
Suprahyoid muscle training is important for managing dysphagia, a condition that causes coughing or choking during eating. This training involves isometric exercises that target the contraction of fast-twitch muscle fibers, which are selectively reduced in age-related muscle atrophy.
Isometric exercises for the suprahyoid muscles include the Shaker exercise, which involves head-raising in the supine position, and the forehead exercise for suprahyoid muscles (FESM), which involves looking into the navel as if the chin is pulled back with little neck motion while using a hand pushed against the forehead for resistance.
One study found that performing the Shaker exercise for 6 weeks, with 3 sets of 30 repetitions per day, resulted in an increase in the anterior-posterior diameter and the cross-sectional area of the UES during swallowing. Another study found that performing the FESM exercise for 8 weeks, with 5 repetitions in 10 courses per day, improved the geniohyoid muscle area and intensity.
Additionally, high-speed jaw-opening exercises have been found to be effective in strengthening the fast-twitch muscle fibers of the suprahyoid muscles. These exercises involve opening the jaw to its maximum and maintaining this position for 10 seconds, with 5 repetitions and a 10-second interval between sets. Performing this exercise for 4 weeks has been shown to elevate the hyoid bone, improve the opening of the UES, and decrease the pharyngeal transit time.
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Frequently asked questions
The suprahyoid muscles include the digastric, mylohyoid, geniohyoid, and stylohyoid muscles. They are responsible for elevating the hyoid bone.
Yes, the suprahyoid muscles are responsible for jaw opening. They work in conjunction with the infrahyoid muscles to control mandibular positions, jaw motions, and hyoid movements.
High-speed jaw-opening exercises have been shown to be effective in strengthening the suprahyoid muscles. These exercises involve isometric contractions, where the jaw is opened to its maximum and held for 10 seconds.
The suprahyoid muscles play a role in chewing, swallowing, and speaking. They also contribute to bolus formation during mastication.
