Suprahyoid Muscles Flashcards

Explore the suprahyoid muscles, including their attachments, nerve supply, anatomical relationships, and roles in swallowing and jaw movement.

Card 1 of 30Question

What are the four paired suprahyoid muscles?

The digastric, mylohyoid, stylohyoid, and geniohyoid muscles.

In This Section

1. What are the four paired suprahyoid muscles?

The digastric, mylohyoid, stylohyoid, and geniohyoid muscles.

2. Where are the suprahyoid muscles located?

Superior to the hyoid bone, between the mandible, skull base, and hyoid region.

3. What are the principal functions of the suprahyoid muscles?

Elevation and stabilization of the hyoid bone, assistance with swallowing, and depression of the mandible.

4. How many bellies does the digastric muscle have?

Two, an anterior belly and a posterior belly connected by an intermediate tendon.

5. Where does the anterior belly of the digastric muscle originate?

From the digastric fossa on the internal surface of the mandible near the midline.

6. Where does the posterior belly of the digastric muscle originate?

From the mastoid notch of the temporal bone, medial to the mastoid process.

7. How is the intermediate tendon of the digastric muscle attached to the hyoid bone?

By a fibrous sling associated with the body and greater horn of the hyoid bone.

8. Which nerve supplies the anterior belly of the digastric muscle?

The nerve to mylohyoid, a branch of the inferior alveolar nerve from the mandibular division of the trigeminal nerve.

9. Which nerve supplies the posterior belly of the digastric muscle?

The facial nerve (cranial nerve VII), through its digastric branch.

10. What is the action of the digastric muscle?

It elevates the hyoid bone or depresses the mandible when the hyoid is stabilized.

11. Where does the mylohyoid muscle originate?

From the mylohyoid line on the internal surface of the mandible.

12. Where does the mylohyoid muscle insert?

Into the median mylohyoid raphe and the body of the hyoid bone.

13. What anatomical structure is formed primarily by the paired mylohyoid muscles?

The muscular floor of the oral cavity.

14. What is the main action of the mylohyoid muscle?

Elevation of the hyoid bone and floor of the mouth during swallowing.

15. What is the relationship of the sublingual gland to the mylohyoid muscle?

The sublingual gland lies superior to the mylohyoid muscle within the floor of the mouth.

16. Where does the stylohyoid muscle originate?

From the styloid process of the temporal bone.

17. Where does the stylohyoid muscle insert?

On the body of the hyoid bone near its junction with the greater horn.

18. Which nerve supplies the stylohyoid muscle?

The facial nerve (cranial nerve VII), through its stylohyoid branch.

19. What is the primary action of the stylohyoid muscle?

Elevation and retraction of the hyoid bone during swallowing.

20. What distinctive anatomical relationship exists between the stylohyoid and digastric muscles?

The stylohyoid tendon commonly splits around the intermediate tendon of the digastric muscle.

21. Where does the geniohyoid muscle originate?

From the inferior mental spine, also called the inferior genial tubercle, of the mandible.

22. Where does the geniohyoid muscle insert?

On the anterior surface of the body of the hyoid bone.

23. Which nerve fibers supply the geniohyoid muscle?

Motor fibers from the first cervical spinal nerve (C1) traveling with the hypoglossal nerve.

24. What is the principal action of the geniohyoid muscle?

It pulls the hyoid bone anterosuperiorly, helping widen the pharynx during swallowing.

25. What is the anatomical relationship between the geniohyoid and mylohyoid muscles?

The geniohyoid lies superior to the mylohyoid and inferior to the genioglossus.

26. Which suprahyoid muscle bellies form the boundaries of the submental triangle?

The right and left anterior bellies of the digastric muscles.

27. Which muscles form the muscular floor of the submandibular triangle?

The mylohyoid, hyoglossus, and middle pharyngeal constrictor muscles.

28. Which pharyngeal arches give rise to the two bellies of the digastric muscle?

The anterior belly develops from the first pharyngeal arch, while the posterior belly develops from the second.

29. How do the suprahyoid muscles contribute to the oral phase of swallowing?

They stabilize and elevate the hyoid complex, supporting coordinated tongue and floor-of-mouth movements.

30. How does suprahyoid contraction contribute to opening the upper esophageal sphincter?

Anterior and superior movement of the hyolaryngeal complex helps mechanically open the relaxed sphincter.