Logan Steele
The suprahyoid muscles are a group of four muscles located in the neck, superior to the hyoid bone. They include the digastric, mylohyoid, geniohyoid, and stylohyoid muscles. These muscles connect the hyoid bone to the mandible and the skull, forming the floor of the oral cavity. They play an important role in chewing, swallowing, and speech, as they coordinate the movements of the floor of the mouth and the hyoid bone.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of muscles | 4 |
| Muscle names | Digastric, Mylohyoid, Geniohyoid, Stylohyoid |
| Muscle attachments | Superior aspect of the hyoid bone |
| Muscle function | Elevate the hyoid bone and larynx and move them superiorly and anteriorly |
| Muscle innervation | Mandibular nerve, trigeminal nerve, facial nerve |
| Muscle blood supply | Branches of the facial artery, occipital artery, and lingual artery |
| Role in mastication | Accessory or secondary muscles of mastication |
| Role in swallowing | Assist in swallowing by elevating the hyoid bone and widening the esophagus |
| Role in speech | Coordinate movements of the floor of the mouth and hyoid bone during speech |
| Role in airway management | Dysfunction can contribute to obstructive sleep apnea and intubation complications |
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What You'll Learn
- The suprahyoid muscles are a group of four muscles located above the hyoid bone
- They connect the hyoid bone to the mandible and the skull
- They include the digastric, mylohyoid, geniohyoid and stylohyoid muscles
- These muscles facilitate chewing, swallowing and speech
- They are also known as accessory muscles of mastication
The suprahyoid muscles are a group of four muscles located above the hyoid bone
The suprahyoid muscles have a variety of functions. They facilitate chewing, swallowing, and phonation, and assist with neck flexion. They also help to position the hyoid bone and coordinate the movements of the floor of the mouth and the hyoid bone during swallowing or vocalization. When the infrahyoid muscles stabilize the hyoid bone, the suprahyoid muscles contribute to mandibular depression, allowing for a wide opening of the mouth.
The digastric muscle is comprised of two muscular bellies, which are connected by a 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. The two bellies are connected by an intermediate tendon, which is attached to the hyoid bone via a fibrous sling. The digastric muscle aids in chin depression and retraction, assisting with mouth opening. It also elevates the hyoid bone and floor of the oral cavity, contributing to swallowing.
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. The mylohyoid raphe continues its course and inserts on the body of the hyoid bone. The mylohyoid elevates the hyoid bone and the floor of the mouth.
The geniohyoid muscle has its origin on the inferior mental spine, also known as the inferior genial tubercle, at the internal surface of the mandible. Its fibers radiate posteroinferiorly to the body of the hyoid. The primary function of the geniohyoid is to elevate the hyoid bone and draw it anteriorly, shortening the floor of the mouth and widening the pharynx during swallowing.
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They connect the hyoid bone to the mandible and the skull
The suprahyoid muscles are a group of four muscles located superior to the hyoid bone. They are named for their position above the hyoid bone. These muscles connect the hyoid bone to the mandible and the skull, forming the floor of the oral cavity. The suprahyoid muscles include the digastric, mylohyoid, geniohyoid, and stylohyoid muscles. The digastric muscle, for example, consists of two parts separated by an intermediate tendon. The anterior belly originates from the digastric fossa of the mandible, while the posterior belly originates from the mastoid notch of the temporal bone. They work together to insert into the body of the hyoid bone via the intermediate tendon and its fibrous sling.
The mylohyoid muscle, another component of the suprahyoid group, runs from the mylohyoid line of the mandible to a median tendon known as the mylohyoid raphe. This tendon allows the medial fibres of each mylohyoid muscle to unite and continue their course to insert into the body of the hyoid bone. The mylohyoid muscle is responsible for elevating both the hyoid bone and the floor of the mouth when the mandibular attachment is fixed. Conversely, when the hyoid attachment is fixed, the mylohyoid muscle depresses the mandible.
The geniohyoid muscle, which is also part of the suprahyoid musculature, originates on the inferior mental spine, also known as the inferior genial tubercle, at the internal surface of the mandible. Its fibres radiate posteroinferiorly to the body of the hyoid bone. The primary function of the geniohyoid muscle is to elevate the hyoid bone and draw it anteriorly, contributing to the movement of the hyoid bone during swallowing.
The stylohyoid muscles, the last of the four suprahyoid muscles, are long and thin, running nearly parallel to the posterior belly of the digastric muscle. They assist in elevating the hyoid bone and widening the oesophagus during swallowing. When the two bellies of the digastric contract, they pull upward on the hyoid bone. However, if the hyoid is fixed, the digastric muscles assist in extreme mouth openings, such as yawning or taking a large bite.
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They include the digastric, mylohyoid, geniohyoid and stylohyoid muscles
The suprahyoid muscles are a group of four muscles located superior to the hyoid bone. They include the digastric, mylohyoid, geniohyoid, and stylohyoid muscles. These muscles connect the hyoid bone to the mandible and, together with adjacent tissue, form the floor of the oral cavity. The suprahyoid muscles are involved in chewing, swallowing, and speech. They work in combination with the infrahyoid muscles to position the hyoid bone and coordinate the movements of the floor of the mouth during swallowing and vocalization.
The digastric muscle is made up of two parts separated by an intermediate tendon. The anterior belly originates from the digastric fossa of the mandible, while the posterior belly originates from the mastoid notch of the temporal bone. They work together to insert onto the body of the hyoid bone, elevating it and widening the oesophagus during swallowing.
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 insert onto the hyoid bone. The mylohyoid elevates the hyoid bone and the floor of the mouth. It also tenses the floor of the mouth.
The geniohyoid muscle originates on the inferior mental spine, also known as the inferior genial tubercle, at the internal surface of the mandible. Its fibres radiate posteroinferiorly to the body of the hyoid bone. The geniohyoid elevates the hyoid bone, drawing it anteriorly and shortening the floor of the mouth during swallowing. Additionally, it assists with depressing the mandible and pulling it inwards.
The stylohyoid muscle is a slender, long, and thin muscle that extends from the posterior surface of the styloid process of the temporal bone to the body of the hyoid bone. It elevates the hyoid bone and draws it backward, elongating the floor of the mouth. The stylohyoid also helps to keep the pharynx open during inspiration by tensing the floor of the mouth.
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These muscles facilitate chewing, swallowing and speech
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 facilitate chewing, swallowing, and speech through their ability to coordinate the movements of the floor of the mouth and the hyoid bone.
The digastric muscle, for example, consists of two parts: the anterior belly and the posterior belly, which are connected by an intermediate tendon. When these two bellies contract, they pull upward on the hyoid bone, contributing to the elevation of the hyoid bone and the floor of the oral cavity. This action is crucial for swallowing. Additionally, when the hyoid bone is fixed, the digastric muscle assists in extreme opening movements of the mouth, such as yawning or taking large bites.
The mylohyoid muscle, on the other hand, runs from the mylohyoid line of the mandible to a median tendon called the mylohyoid raphe. It elevates the hyoid bone and the floor of the mouth, playing a crucial role in deglutition (the process of swallowing) and speech. The mylohyoid also tenses the floor of the mouth, providing stability and support for chewing and speech articulation.
The geniohyoid muscle originates on the inferior mental spine, or the inferior genial tubercle, and its fibres radiate posteroinferiorly to the body of the hyoid bone. Its primary function is to elevate the hyoid bone and draw it anteriorly, which is essential for swallowing. During this process, the geniohyoid muscle pulls the hyoid bone anterosuperiorly, shortening the floor of the mouth and widening the pharynx, making it easier for food to pass through during swallowing.
The stylohyoid muscles are long and thin, running almost parallel to the posterior belly of the digastric muscle. They initiate the swallowing action by pulling the hyoid bone in a posterior and superior direction, contributing to the widening of the oesophagus during swallowing.
In summary, the suprahyoid muscles work in coordination with the infrahyoid muscles to position and stabilise the hyoid bone, facilitating the complex movements involved in chewing, swallowing, and speech production. Their ability to elevate the hyoid bone and coordinate the floor of the mouth is essential for these vital functions.
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They are also known as accessory muscles of mastication
The suprahyoid muscles are a group of four muscles located superior to the hyoid bone. They are the digastric, mylohyoid, geniohyoid, and stylohyoid muscles. These muscles attach to the superior aspect of the hyoid bone and their main function is to elevate the hyoid and larynx and move them superiorly and anteriorly.
The suprahyoid muscles are also known as accessory muscles of mastication. Mastication, or chewing, is the process of grinding food into small particles that can be swallowed and digested. The muscles of mastication are a group of paired muscles responsible for the movements of the lower jaw at the temporomandibular joints (TMJs). The four primary muscles of mastication are the masseter, temporalis, lateral pterygoid, and medial pterygoid.
In addition to these four primary muscles, there are several accessory muscles of mastication that also contribute to the process of chewing. These include the digastric, stylohyoid, mylohyoid, geniohyoid, and buccinator muscles. The suprahyoid muscles are considered secondary or accessory muscles of mastication because they contribute to the movement of the mandible during chewing and speech. They also assist in depressing the mandible and subsequent opening of the mouth, movement of the tongue, swallowing, and speaking.
The suprahyoid muscles work in combination with the infrahyoid muscles to position the hyoid bone and coordinate the movements of the floor of the mouth and the hyoid bone during swallowing or vocalization. The infrahyoid muscles stabilize the hyoid bone so that the suprahyoid muscles can assist with depression of the mandible. Together, these muscle groups play an important role in chewing, swallowing, and speech.
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Frequently asked questions
Suprahyoid muscles are a group of four muscles located superior to the hyoid bone of the neck. They are named so because of their position to the hyoid bone.
The suprahyoid muscles help in chewing, swallowing, and speech. They also coordinate the movements of the floor of the mouth and the hyoid bone during swallowing or vocalization.
The four types of suprahyoid muscles are the digastric, mylohyoid, geniohyoid, and stylohyoid muscles.
