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The hyoid bone is a small U-shaped bone located in the anterior region of the neck. It is the only bone in the human body that does not articulate with any other bone directly. Instead, it is suspended by a complex network of muscles and ligaments that tether it to surrounding structures. The suprahyoid muscles are a group of four muscles located above the hyoid bone in the neck. They are the digastric, stylohyoid, geniohyoid, and mylohyoid muscles. These muscles all act to elevate the hyoid bone, an action involved in swallowing.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of muscles that elevate the hyoid bone | 4 |
| Names of muscles | Digastric, stylohyoid, mylohyoid, and geniohyoid |
| Location of muscles | Superior to the hyoid bone |
| Function of digastric muscle | Elevates the hyoid bone and depresses the mandible |
| Function of stylohyoid muscle | Elevates and retracts the hyoid bone |
| Function of mylohyoid muscle | Elevates the hyoid bone and the floor of the mouth |
| Function of geniohyoid muscle | Elevates the hyoid bone and assists with depressing the mandible |
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What You'll Learn
The mylohyoid muscle
The hyoid bone is a small U-shaped bone located in the anterior region of the neck. It is the only bone in the human body that does not articulate with any other bone directly. Instead, it is suspended by a complex network of muscles and ligaments that tether it to surrounding structures, including the mandible, styloid processes of the temporal bone, sternum, and thyroid cartilage. The suprahyoid muscles, including the mylohyoid muscle, play a crucial role in positioning the hyoid bone and coordinating the movements of the floor of the mouth and the hyoid bone during swallowing, vocalization, and breathing.
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The stylohyoid muscle
The stylohyoid is a slender, thin, and small muscle that is part of the four suprahyoid muscles. These muscles are located above the hyoid bone in the neck. The other three suprahyoid muscles are the mylohyoid, geniohyoid, and digastric muscles. The stylohyoid muscle originates from the styloid process of the temporal bone and inserts onto the hyoid bone. The muscle is involved in swallowing and keeps the airway open during inspiration.
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The geniohyoid muscle
The main function of the geniohyoid muscle is to elevate the hyoid bone and draw it anteriorly, which has the consequence of moving the attached larynx and pharynx anterosuperiorly. This dilates the upper airway, assisting respiration. During the first act of deglutition, when the mass of food is being driven from the mouth into the pharynx, the hyoid bone, and with it the tongue, is carried upward and forward by the anterior bellies of the Digastrici, the Mylohyoidei, and Geniohyoidei. This also assists in depressing the mandible.
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The digastric muscle
The digastric is a small but important muscle in the neck. It is part of a group of muscles called the suprahyoid muscles, which also includes the mylohyoid, geniohyoid, and stylohyoid muscles. The digastric is unique in having two bellies, the anterior and the posterior, which unite to form an intermediate tendon. The tendon is attached to the hyoid bone via a fibrous sling.
The two bellies of the digastric have different embryological origins and are supplied by different cranial nerves. The anterior belly is derived from the first pharyngeal arch and is innervated by the nerve to the mylohyoid muscle, a branch of the inferior alveolar nerve. The posterior belly is derived from the second brachial arch and is supplied by the digastric branch of the facial nerve.
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The thyrohyoid muscle
The thyrohyoid has two major functions. Firstly, it acts in conjunction with the other infrahyoid muscles to depress the hyoid bone, which is helpful after swallowing has taken place. Secondly, when the hyoid bone is stabilized by the suprahyoid muscles, the thyrohyoid elevates the larynx. By controlling the position and shape of the larynx, the thyrohyoid aids in making sound.
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Frequently asked questions
The suprahyoid muscles are a group of four muscles located above the hyoid bone in the neck. They are the digastric, stylohyoid, geniohyoid, and mylohyoid muscles.
The stylohyoid, mylohyoid, digastric, and geniohyoid muscles all elevate the hyoid bone.
The stylohyoid muscle elongates the floor of the mouth during swallowing. The mylohyoid tenses the floor of the mouth. The geniohyoid shortens the floor of the mouth and widens the pharynx during swallowing. The digastric assists in the extreme opening of the mouth during yawning or taking a large bite.
