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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 connect the hyoid bone to the mandible and the base of the skull, forming the floor of the oral cavity. They are involved in chewing, swallowing, and speech, and play a crucial role in airway management. Their main function is to elevate the hyoid bone and coordinate the movements of the floor of the mouth during swallowing or vocalization.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of muscles | 4 |
| Muscle names | Digastric, Stylohyoid, Mylohyoid, Geniohyoid |
| Hyoid bone | Located superior to the hyoid bone |
| Function | Positioning the hyoid bone, coordinating movements of the floor of the mouth, chewing, swallowing, speech, widening the oesophagus during swallowing, elevating the hyoid bone |
| Muscle structure | The digastric muscle has two bellies, anterior and posterior, connected by an intermediate tendon |
| Innervation | Mandibular nerve, trigeminal nerve, facial nerve, hypoglossal nerve |
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What You'll Learn
The four types of suprahyoid muscles
The suprahyoid muscles are a group of four muscles located superior to the hyoid bone in the neck. They are called suprahyoid muscles because they are positioned above the hyoid bone. The four types of suprahyoid muscles are the digastric, stylohyoid, mylohyoid, and geniohyoid muscles.
The digastric muscle consists of two muscular bellies, the anterior and posterior, which are connected by an intermediate tendon. The anterior belly is innervated by the inferior alveolar nerve, a branch of the mandibular nerve, while the posterior belly is innervated by the facial nerve. The digastric muscle aids in depressing the mandible and elevating the hyoid bone, contributing to swallowing.
The stylohyoid muscle is a thin muscular strip located superiorly to the posterior belly of the digastric muscle. It initiates the swallowing action by pulling the hyoid bone in a posterior and superior direction.
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 insert onto the body of the hyoid bone. The mylohyoid elevates the hyoid bone and the floor of the mouth, contributing to speech and deglutition.
The geniohyoid muscle originates on the inferior mental spine, or the inferior genial tubercle, at the internal surface of the mandible. Its primary function is to elevate the hyoid bone and draw it anteriorly, shortening the floor of the mouth and widening the pharynx during swallowing.
Together, these four types of suprahyoid muscles contribute to the positioning of the hyoid bone, the movement of the floor of the mouth, and the processes of chewing, swallowing, and speech.
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Their role in elevating the hyoid bone
The suprahyoid muscles are a group of four muscles located superior to the hyoid bone. They are involved in elevating the hyoid bone and play a role in swallowing, chewing, and speech. The hyoid bone is a small U-shaped or crescent-shaped bone located in the anterior region of the neck. It is the only "floating" bone in the human body, connected to other structures by muscles and ligaments.
The four muscles that make up the suprahyoid muscles are the digastric, mylohyoid, geniohyoid, and stylohyoid muscles. Each of these muscles has a specific role in elevating the hyoid bone. When the two bellies of the digastric muscle contract, they pull upward on the hyoid bone, elevating it. The mylohyoid muscle elevates the hyoid bone and tenses the floor of the mouth. It originates from the mylohyoid line of the mandible and inserts into the body of the hyoid bone.
The geniohyoid muscle pulls the hyoid bone anterosuperiorly, elevating it and shortening the floor of the mouth. It originates from the inferior mental spine of the mandible and inserts into the anterior surface of the hyoid bone. The stylohyoid muscle is a thin, long muscle that assists in elevating the hyoid bone during swallowing. It originates from the styloid process of the temporal bone and attaches to the hyoid bone.
Overall, the suprahyoid muscles work together to elevate the hyoid bone, facilitating important functions such as swallowing, chewing, and speech. The hyoid bone's unique floating position in the body, supported by the suprahyoid muscles, allows it to play a crucial role in these functions.
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Their function in chewing and swallowing
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 play a crucial role in chewing and swallowing, also known as mastication.
During mastication, food is moistened by saliva and broken down into smaller pieces. This process is facilitated by the movement of the jaw at the temporomandibular joint, which is coordinated by several muscles, including the temporalis, masseter, medial pterygoid, and lateral pterygoid muscles. The suprahyoid muscles are also involved in this process, particularly in elevating the hyoid bone and coordinating the movements of the floor of the mouth.
The digastric muscle, for example, consists of two parts: the anterior belly and the posterior belly, which are connected by a tendon. When these two bellies contract, they pull upward on the hyoid bone, elevating it. This action helps in opening the mouth wide during yawning or taking large bites. The mylohyoid muscle also elevates the hyoid bone and tenses the floor of the mouth. Meanwhile, the geniohyoid muscle pulls the hyoid bone anteriorly, shortening the floor of the mouth and widening the pharynx during swallowing.
The stylohyoid muscles are long and thin, and they assist in elevating the hyoid bone and widening the oesophagus during swallowing. They initiate the swallowing action by pulling the hyoid bone in a posterior and superior direction. This coordination between the suprahyoid muscles ensures that food can be easily swallowed and passed through the oesophagus safely.
Research has shown that the number of chewing cycles and the duration of chewing can vary among individuals. The texture of food and the presence of saliva also influence the masticatory forces and jaw movements. Additionally, studies suggest that poor masticatory performance, such as in older individuals with removable dentures, can contribute to impaired swallowing function. This highlights the intricate relationship between chewing and swallowing and the important role played by the suprahyoid muscles in these processes.
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Their location in the neck
The suprahyoid muscles are a group of four muscles located in the neck, superior to the hyoid bone. They are the digastric, mylohyoid, geniohyoid, and stylohyoid muscles. These muscles connect the hyoid bone to the mandible and the base of the skull, forming the floor of the oral cavity. They are also referred to as accessory muscles of mastication due to their contribution during chewing or swallowing.
The digastric muscle consists of two parts, or bellies, which are 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. These two bellies join via the intermediate tendon, which runs through the stylohyoid muscle and then attaches to the hyoid bone via a fibrous sling. The digastric muscle aids in chin depression and retraction, assisting with mouth opening, and also helps to elevate the hyoid bone and the floor of the oral cavity 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 fibers of each mylohyoid muscle unite. The mylohyoid raphe then continues and inserts onto the body of the hyoid bone. The mylohyoid muscle elevates the hyoid bone and the floor of the mouth, and also plays a role in deglutition and speech.
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 fibres 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.
The stylohyoid muscles are long, thin muscles that are nearly parallel with the posterior belly of the digastric muscle. They initiate the swallowing action by pulling the hyoid bone in a posterior and superior direction, widening the oesophagus.
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Their innervation and blood supply
The suprahyoid muscles are primarily supplied by branches of the facial artery, with the occipital and lingual arteries also contributing. The digastric muscle, one of the four suprahyoid muscles, has two bellies: 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.
The two bellies are connected by an intermediate tendon, which is attached to the hyoid bone via a fibrous sling. Due to their different embryological origins, the bellies of the digastric muscle are innervated by different nerves. The anterior belly is innervated by the inferior alveolar nerve, a branch of the mandibular nerve (CN V3). The posterior belly is innervated by the digastric nerve, a branch of the facial nerve (CN VII).
The mylohyoid muscle, another one of the four suprahyoid muscles, runs from the mylohyoid line of the mandible to a median tendon, known as the mylohyoid raphe, where the medial fibres of each mylohyoid muscle unite. The mylohyoid raphe then continues its course and inserts onto the body of the hyoid bone. The mylohyoid muscle is supplied by the nerve to mylohyoid from the mandibular nerve (CN V3).
The geniohyoid muscle, located on either side of the midline of the neck, arises from the inferior mental spine of the mandible and attaches to the hyoid bone. It is innervated by the anterior ramus of spinal nerve C1 via the hypoglossal nerve (CN XII). The stylohyoid muscle, the fourth suprahyoid muscle, is supplied by the stylohyoid branch of the facial nerve (CN VII).
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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 are the digastric, stylohyoid, mylohyoid, and geniohyoid muscles.
The suprahyoid muscles act to depress the mandible when the infrahyoid muscles are contracted, and to elevate the hyoid bone when the mandible is fixed. They also contribute to chewing, swallowing, and speech.
The suprahyoid muscles attach to the superior aspect of the hyoid bone, connecting it to the mandible and the base of the skull.
There are four suprahyoid muscles.
