Suprahyoid Muscles

Suprahyoid Muscles

Suprahyoid muscles - these muscles lie in the anterior neck superior to the hyoid bone. These muscles form the floor of the mouth and attach the hyoid bone to the skull.

Geniohyoid:

• Genio = chin
• 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

• Mylo = mandible
• 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

• Stylo = styloid process
• Originates on the styloid process of the temporal bone
• Inserts on the body of the hyoid; splits over digastric
• Stylohyoid elevates the hyoid.