
The mylohyoid muscle is a suprahyoid muscle that forms the floor of the oral cavity and aids in swallowing and speaking. It runs from the mandible to the hyoid bone, and it is responsible for elevating the hyoid bone and depressing the mandible. The mylohyoid muscle is innervated by the mylohyoid nerve, a branch of the inferior alveolar nerve, which is derived from the mandibular nerve. This nerve provides motor and sensory innervation to the muscle and surrounding areas.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Muscle Type | Pharyngeal, Suprahyoid |
| Muscle Shape | Flat, Triangular, Sheet-like |
| Muscle Location | Neck, Above Hyoid Bone |
| Muscle Attachments | Mandible, Hyoid Bone |
| Muscle Function | Elevates Hyoid Bone, Tongue, and Floor of Mouth, Depresses Mandible |
| Innervation | Mylohyoid Nerve, Inferior Alveolar Nerve, Mandibular Nerve (CN V3), Trigeminal Nerve (CN V) |
| Blood Vessels | Submental and Facial Arteries and Veins |
| Glands | Sublingual, Submandibular |
| Embryonic Origin | Mesoderm, First Pharyngeal Arch |
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What You'll Learn

The mylohyoid nerve innervates the mylohyoid muscle
The mylohyoid nerve is a branch of the inferior alveolar nerve, which is itself a branch of the mandibular nerve (CN V3). The mandibular nerve is derived from the trigeminal nerve (CN V). The mylohyoid nerve emerges to provide motor supply to the mylohyoid muscle and the anterior belly of the digastric muscle. It also provides sensory innervation to the skin of the centre of the submental area and sometimes to the mandibular (lower) molar teeth.
The mylohyoid muscle originates from the mylohyoid line on the internal surface of the mandible and inserts on the superior aspect of the body of the hyoid bone. The two mylohyoid muscles unite in a midline raphe where they intermesh. This muscle is important for swallowing and speaking as it elevates the hyoid bone, the tongue, and the floor of the mouth. It also depresses the mandible, facilitating chewing by separating teeth that may be held together by food.
The mylohyoid muscle separates the sublingual space from the submandibular space, with these spaces communicating via a lateral gap between the mylohyoid and hyoglossus muscles. The submandibular gland wraps around the edges of the mylohyoid and is divided into superficial and deep lobes above and below the muscle. Infections, particularly odontogenic infections, can spread between these spaces via this communication or by penetrating the mylohyoid muscle.
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The mylohyoid nerve is a branch of the inferior alveolar nerve
The mylohyoid muscle is a flat, triangular-shaped muscle that forms the floor of the oral cavity of the mouth. It is one of the suprahyoid muscles, which are located superiorly to the hyoid bone of the neck. The mylohyoid muscle runs from the mandible to the hyoid bone, and it helps to elevate the hyoid bone and the tongue, which is important during swallowing and speaking.
The mylohyoid nerve emerges to supply motor function to the mylohyoid muscle. This nerve is essential for the muscle's ability to contract and elevate the hyoid bone and tongue. The mylohyoid nerve arises just before it enters the mandibular foramen and pierces the sphenomandibular ligament. It then descends in a groove on the deep surface of the ramus of the mandible, reaching the under surface of the mylohyoid muscle.
The mylohyoid nerve is a mixed nerve, meaning it has both motor and sensory functions. In addition to its role in innervating the mylohyoid muscle, it also provides sensory innervation to the submental area and occasionally the mandibular molar teeth. This sensory function is crucial for maintaining awareness and perception in this region of the mouth and jaw.
The mylohyoid nerve is an important structure for oral procedures. During local anaesthesia of the mandibular teeth, blocking the mylohyoid nerve is necessary to prevent pain. If this nerve is not anaesthetised during a block of the inferior alveolar nerve, pain may be experienced. Thus, understanding the anatomy and function of the mylohyoid nerve is crucial for effective dental procedures and oral healthcare.
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The inferior alveolar nerve is a branch of the mandibular nerve
The mylohyoid muscle is a flat, triangular muscle situated in the neck. It forms the floor of the oral cavity of the mouth, and it is important for swallowing and speaking. The muscle is innervated by the mylohyoid nerve, which is a branch of the inferior alveolar nerve.
The inferior alveolar nerve provides sensory innervation to the chin and lower lip through the mental nerve, which emerges from the mandibular canal through the mental foramen. The mental nerve also provides sensory innervation to the lower premolar, canine, and incisor teeth, as well as their associated gums. The inferior alveolar nerve also gives off small unnamed twigs that contribute to the inferior dental plexus, which supplies the mandibular molar and premolar teeth.
The mandibular nerve is located in the pterygomandibular space of the oral cavity, also known as the masticator space. After arising from the mandibular nerve, the inferior alveolar nerve travels in an inferior direction. It passes deep to the lateral pterygoid muscle and then travels through the mandibular foramen and mandibular canal to enter the jaw.
Injury to the inferior alveolar nerve can occur during various dental procedures, such as wisdom tooth extraction, dental implant placement, root canal treatment, and deep dental anaesthetic injections. The risk of nerve injury is higher in patients aged 25 and older compared to teenagers, and it is important to provide preoperative warnings about these risks.
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The mandibular nerve is derived from the trigeminal nerve
The mylohyoid muscle is a paired muscle of the neck that forms the floor of the oral cavity of the mouth. It runs from the mandible to the hyoid bone and is one of the suprahyoid muscles. The mylohyoid muscle is innervated by the mylohyoid nerve, which is a branch of the inferior alveolar nerve. The inferior alveolar nerve is, in turn, a branch of the mandibular nerve.
The mandibular nerve is the third division of the trigeminal nerve and innervates parts of the human face. It is a mixed nerve, containing both motor and sensory fibres. The mandibular nerve originates from the trigeminal ganglion and exits the skull through the foramen ovale. Once it reaches the viscerocranium, it divides into two divisions: anterior and posterior. These divisions further split into smaller branches that innervate the structures of the face.
The mandibular nerve transmits sensory information from the lower third of the face, including the lower lip, mandible, preauricular, and temporal regions. It also provides motor innervation for the masticatory muscles and muscles derived from the first pharyngeal arch. The mandibular nerve plays a role in swallowing by supporting the digastric and mylohyoid muscles.
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The mylohyoid muscle is a suprahyoid muscle
The mylohyoid muscle is named after its two attachments near the molar teeth. It is derived from the first pharyngeal arch and is paired, with the two muscles intermeshing at a midline raphe. This median raphe is sometimes absent, with the fibres of the two muscles continuous. The muscle is supplied by the mylohyoid nerve, a branch of the inferior alveolar nerve, which in turn is a branch of the mandibular nerve. The mylohyoid nerve emerges to provide motor supply to the mylohyoid muscle and the anterior belly of the digastric muscle.
The mylohyoid muscle has several functions. It elevates the hyoid bone and the tongue, which is important during swallowing and speaking. It also reinforces the floor of the mouth. If other muscles are used to keep the position of the hyoid bone fixed, then the mylohyoid muscle depresses the mandible. This helps to separate teeth that may be stuck together by food, facilitating chewing.
The mylohyoid muscle separates the sublingual space from the submandibular space, which communicate via a lateral gap between the mylohyoid and hyoglossus muscles. The submandibular gland wraps around the edges of the mylohyoid and is divided into superficial and deep lobes above and below the muscle.
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Frequently asked questions
The mylohyoid muscle is a paired muscle of the neck that forms the floor of the oral cavity of the mouth.
The mylohyoid muscle is innervated by the mylohyoid nerve, which is a branch of the inferior alveolar nerve.
The mylohyoid muscle aids in swallowing and speaking by elevating the hyoid bone and the tongue. It also depresses the mandible, facilitating chewing.

















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