Suprahyoid muscles

Although we all know that there are many muscles in our body. But generally speaking, people don't pay much attention to it. For example, the suprahyoid muscles, I believe that everyone is not very familiar with this term. In fact, there are many muscle tissues in our mouth to help us perform related activities. So, what are the muscle tissues of the suprahyoid muscle group? Let us introduce it today.

The suprahyoid muscles consist of four pairs of muscles that stabilize the hyoid bone and, except the mylohyoid muscle, lower the jaw. Function: When the hyoid bone is fixed, the mylohyoid muscle, geniohyoid muscle and anterior belly of the digastric muscle can pull the mandible downward and open the mouth; when swallowing, the mandible is fixed, the suprahyoid muscles contract and lift the hyoid bone, raising the tongue, pushing the food bolus into the pharynx, and closing the pharyngeal isthmus.

Overview

The suprahyoid muscles consist of four pairs of muscles that stabilize the hyoid bone and, except the mylohyoid muscle, lower the jaw.

Muscles included

Digastric and stylohyoid muscles

The anterior part originates from the digastric fossa of the mandible, the posterior part originates from the mastoid notch of the temporal bone, and the middle part transforms into the intermediate tendon at the greater angle of the hyoid bone.

Nerve innervation, anterior abdomen: the mylohyoid branch of the mandibular nerve in the trigeminal nerve; posterior abdomen, innervated by the digastric branch of the facial nerve before entering the parotid gland outside the skull.

Blood supply, anterior abdomen: the submental artery of the facial artery supplies blood; posterior abdomen: the posterior auricular artery and occipital artery supply blood.

Stylohyoid muscle

It originates from the styloid process and ends at the junction of the greater horn of the hyoid bone and the body of the hyoid bone, wrapping around the digastric tendon at its terminus.

Nerve supply: digastric branch of facial nerve.

Blood supply: facial artery, posterior auricular artery, occipital artery.

Mylohyoid muscle

It is a triangular flat muscle located between the mandible and the hyoid bone, on the medial side of the mandibular body. It starts from the mylohyoid line, runs posteriorly, medially and inferiorly, and the muscle fibers of the middle and anterior parts on both sides cross at the median fiber suture, and the posterior muscle fibers end at the body of the hyoid bone.

Innervation: Mylohyoid branch of the mandibular nerve.

Blood supply: submental artery of the facial artery, sublingual artery, and maxillary artery.

Geniohyoid muscle

It is a small long columnar muscle located above the mylohyoid muscle and on both sides of the midline. It originates from the mental spine on the inner surface of the mandible, goes posteriorly, and ends at the superficial surface of the body of the hyoid bone.

Innervation: Innervated by the anterior rami of the first cervical nerve.

Blood supply: Sublingual artery and submental artery.