Logan Steele
The suprahyoid muscles are a group of four muscles located in the neck, above the hyoid bone. They include the digastric, mylohyoid, geniohyoid, and stylohyoid muscles. These muscles play an important role in chewing, swallowing, and speech. They are also involved in the positioning of the hyoid bone and the coordination of the movements of the floor of the mouth and the hyoid bone during swallowing or vocalization. Studies have shown that the suprahyoid muscles are active in pitch and loudness control during phonation. Furthermore, damage to the suprahyoid muscles can result in difficulty speaking and a hoarse voice.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of suprahyoid muscles | 4 |
| Names of suprahyoid muscles | mylohyoid, geniohyoid, stylohyoid, digastric |
| Location of suprahyoid muscles | superior to the hyoid bone |
| Function of suprahyoid muscles | position the hyoid bone, coordinate movements of the floor of the mouth and the hyoid bone during swallowing or vocalization, control pitch and loudness during phonation |
| Impact on voice | paralysis or damage can result in a hoarse voice or difficulty speaking |
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What You'll Learn
The suprahyoid muscles and pitch/loudness control
The suprahyoid muscles are a group of four muscles located in the neck, above the hyoid bone. They include the digastric, mylohyoid, geniohyoid, and stylohyoid muscles. These muscles work together with the infrahyoid muscles to position and stabilise the hyoid bone, which is crucial for swallowing and speech.
The suprahyoid muscles play an important role in controlling pitch and loudness during vocalisation. A study by Feifan Wang and Edwin M.-L. Yiu from the University of Hong Kong's Voice Research Laboratory examined the surface electromyographic (sEMG) activity of the suprahyoid muscles during the production of different vowels at various pitch and loudness levels. They found that the suprahyoid muscles exhibited the highest level of activity during the phonation of the vowel /i/ at different pitches and volumes. This is likely because producing this vowel requires a forward pull of the tongue and a simultaneous upward and forward movement of the hyoid bone, which the suprahyoid muscles facilitate.
The suprahyoid muscles are responsible for depressing the mandible and elevating the hyoid bone. This action is essential for controlling pitch and loudness during speech. Additionally, the activation of these muscles is associated with self-perceived vocal effort. According to McKenna et al. (2019), increased self-perception of vocal effort leads to stronger activation of the suprahyoid muscles. This suggests that individuals may consciously or unconsciously adjust their vocal effort, resulting in variations in the activation of these muscles.
Furthermore, the suprahyoid muscles are involved in chewing and swallowing. When the hyoid bone is fixed, the suprahyoid muscles contribute to mandibular depression and retrusion of the mandible during mouth opening. They also form the floor of the oral cavity, coordinating the movements of the tongue and the floor of the mouth during speech and swallowing. This complex coordination of muscle movements ensures effective communication and the safe ingestion of food and liquids.
In summary, the suprahyoid muscles play a crucial role in pitch and loudness control during vocalisation. Their ability to elevate the hyoid bone and coordinate tongue and mouth movements is essential for speech and swallowing. Additionally, individual factors such as vocal habits and training can influence the activation patterns of these muscles, highlighting the dynamic nature of their function in vocal production.
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The impact of suprahyoid muscle asymmetry on voice
The suprahyoid muscles are a group of four muscles located in the neck, above the hyoid bone. They include the digastric, mylohyoid, geniohyoid, and stylohyoid muscles. These muscles work together with the infrahyoid muscles to control the position of the hyoid bone and coordinate the movements of the floor of the mouth and the hyoid bone during swallowing and vocalization.
Furthermore, it has been found that increased self-perceived vocal effort is associated with stronger activation of the suprahyoid muscles. This suggests that vocal loading tasks, such as pitch and loudness control, can lead to excessive vocal effort, which is a possible cause and/or symptom of voice disorders. Therefore, it can be inferred that asymmetry or improper functioning of the suprahyoid muscles can impact vocal quality and possibly lead to voice disorders.
Additionally, damage to the hyoid muscles, including the suprahyoid muscles, can result in difficulty speaking and a hoarse voice. This highlights the importance of these muscles in maintaining clear and healthy vocal production. Further research is needed to fully understand the impact of suprahyoid muscle asymmetry on voice, as it is a complex area involving individual variations in vocal habits and experience.
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The role of the suprahyoid muscles in swallowing
The suprahyoid muscles are a group of four muscles located in the neck, above the hyoid bone. They are the mylohyoid, geniohyoid, stylohyoid, and digastric muscles. These muscles work together with the infrahyoid muscles to control the position of the hyoid bone and coordinate the movements of the floor of the mouth and the hyoid bone during swallowing and vocalization.
The mylohyoid muscle runs from the mylohyoid line of the mandible to a median tendon, known as the mylohyoid raphe, where the medial fibres of each side unite and attach to the body of the hyoid bone. When the mandibular attachment is fixed, the mylohyoid elevates the hyoid bone and the floor of the mouth. When the hyoid attachment is fixed, it depresses the mandible. The mylohyoid is supplied by the nerve to mylohyoid from the mandibular nerve (CN V3).
The geniohyoid muscle originates on the inferior mental spine (or the inferior genial tubercle) on the internal surface of the mandible. Its fibres radiate posteroinferiorly to the body of the hyoid bone. The primary function of the geniohyoid is to elevate the hyoid bone and draw it anteriorly. It is innervated by the anterior ramus of the spinal nerve C1 via the hypoglossal nerve (CN XII).
The stylohyoid muscle is a thin muscular strip located superiorly to the posterior belly of the digastric muscle. It arises from the styloid process of the temporal bone and attaches to the lateral aspect of the hyoid bone. The stylohyoid muscle initiates the swallowing action by pulling the hyoid bone in a posterior and superior direction.
The digastric muscle consists of two parts, the anterior and posterior bellies, which are separated by an intermediate tendon. The anterior belly arises from the digastric fossa of the mandible, while the posterior belly arises from the mastoid process of the temporal bone. Both bellies join via the intermediate tendon, which runs through the stylohyoid muscle and attaches to the body and greater cornu of the hyoid bone via a fibrous sling. The digastric muscle depresses the mandible and elevates the hyoid bone. It is innervated by the inferior alveolar nerve, a branch of the mandibular nerve, and the digastric branch of the facial nerve.
The suprahyoid muscles, along with the infrahyoid muscles, play a crucial role in swallowing by controlling the position and movement of the hyoid bone and coordinating the movements of the floor of the mouth during this process.
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The suprahyoid muscles and vocal effort
The suprahyoid muscles are a group of four muscles located in the neck, above the hyoid bone. They are the mylohyoid, geniohyoid, stylohyoid, and digastric muscles. These muscles work together with the infrahyoid muscles to stabilise the hyoid bone and control mandibular positions, jaw motions, and tongue movement, all of which are essential for speech and swallowing.
The suprahyoid muscles contribute to the floor of the mouth and play a role in chewing and swallowing. They also help coordinate the movements of the floor of the mouth and the hyoid bone during swallowing or vocalisation. The hyoid bone, in turn, influences larynx position and function, which are crucial for voice control.
The digastric muscle, in particular, has two bellies that are connected by a tendon. This tendon can sometimes pierce the stylohyoid muscle. The anterior belly arises from the digastric fossa of the mandible, while the posterior belly comes from the mastoid process of the temporal bone. Both bellies join and attach to the hyoid bone via a fibrous sling. The digastric muscle helps to depress the mandible and elevate the hyoid bone, tongue, and floor of the mouth.
The mylohyoid muscle runs from the mylohyoid line of the mandible to a median tendon, known as the mylohyoid raphe. This tendon continues and inserts onto the body of the hyoid bone. The mylohyoid elevates the hyoid bone and the floor of the mouth when the mandibular attachment is fixed. When the hyoid attachment is fixed, it depresses the mandible.
The geniohyoid muscle originates on the inferior mental spine of the mandible and radiates to the body of the hyoid. It helps to elevate the hyoid bone and draw it forward. A study by McKenna et al. (2019) found that increased self-perception of vocal effort led to stronger activation of the suprahyoid muscles. This indicates that these muscles do play a role in vocal effort, with their activation levels influenced by an individual's perception of their vocal exertion.
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The suprahyoid muscles and speech
The suprahyoid muscles are a group of four muscles located in the neck, above the hyoid bone. They include the digastric, mylohyoid, geniohyoid, and stylohyoid muscles. Together with the infrahyoid muscles, they form the floor of the oral cavity and play an important role in chewing, swallowing, and speech.
The suprahyoid muscles attach the larynx to the hyoid bone and elevate the larynx and the hyoid itself. They also coordinate the movements of the floor of the mouth and the hyoid bone during swallowing or vocalization. The digastric, mylohyoid, and geniohyoid muscles contribute to the floor of the mouth and can elevate the tongue. The digastric muscle, in particular, has two parts separated by an intermediate tendon.
The mylohyoid muscle runs from the mylohyoid line of the mandible to a median tendon, known as the mylohyoid raphe, where the medial fibers of each mylohyoid muscle unite and attach to the hyoid bone. It elevates the hyoid bone and the floor of the mouth when the mandibular attachment is fixed. When the hyoid attachment is fixed, it depresses the mandible.
The geniohyoid muscle originates on the inferior mental spine of the mandible and its fibers radiate to the body of the hyoid. It elevates the hyoid bone and draws it forward. The geniohyoid is also involved in depressing the mandible.
Studies have shown that the suprahyoid muscles are active during pitch and loudness control in speech. The highest activity levels were observed during the production of the vowel /i/, which requires a forward pull of the tongue and upward and forward movement of the hyoid bone. These actions are supported by the suprahyoid muscles, particularly the genioglossus and hyoglossus muscles.
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Frequently asked questions
The suprahyoid muscles are a group of four muscles located superior to the hyoid bone of the neck. They include the digastric, mylohyoid, geniohyoid, and stylohyoid muscles.
The suprahyoid muscles, along with the infrahyoid muscles, play a role in speech and vocalization. They help to elevate the hyoid bone and coordinate the movements of the floor of the mouth and the hyoid bone during swallowing or vocalization. The suprahyoid muscles also contribute to pitch and loudness control during phonation.
Damage to the suprahyoid muscles can result in difficulty speaking and swallowing, and sometimes a hoarse voice. Paralysis of these muscles can occur due to cervical spine trauma and subsequent damage to the ansa cervicalis.
There are specific exercises and techniques that can be performed to strengthen the suprahyoid muscles. Consulting with a speech-language pathologist or a specialist in vocal health can provide personalized guidance on strengthening these muscles.
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