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Neck - Suprahyoid Muscles

Suprahyoid muscles lie above ("supra") the hyoid bone.
  • Originates on the mental spine of the mandible
  • Inserts on the body of the hyoid
  • Geniohyoid elevates the hyoid and the floor of the mouth.
Mylohyoid
  • Originates on the mylohyoid line of the mandible
  • Inserts on the body of the hyoid bone and at the median raphe
  • Mylohyoid elevates the hyoid bone (and floor of the mouth) and depresses the mandible
  • Mylohyoid contributes to the floor of the mouth.
Digastric has two bellies: anterior and posterior
  • Anterior belly arises from the digastric fossa on the mandible
  • Posterior belly arises from the mastoid process of the temporal bone
  • Both bellies insert at the intermediate tendon, which passes through a sling attached to the body of the hyoid bone.
  • Digastric elevates the hyoid bone (and floor of the mouth) and it depresses the mandible.
Stylohyoid
  • Originates on the styloid process of the temporal bone
  • Inserts on the body of the hyoid; splits over digastric
  • Stylohyoid elevates the hyoid.
Related Anatomy
Muscles
Geniohyoid Stylohyoid Mylohyoid Digastric