Head and neck muscles (chewing, facial, and throat muscles)

Stylohyoid

Musculus stylohyoideus

Origin

Styloid process of the temporal bone

Insertion

Body of the hyoid bone, with the tendon splitting around the intermediate tendon of digastric

Function

Elevates and retracts the hyoid bone, lengthening the floor of the mouth during swallowing

Innervation

Facial nerve (CN VII)

Movement & chain

Works together with the posterior belly of digastric and the other suprahyoid muscles to elevate and pull the hyoid bone backward during swallowing.

Palpation

Not distinctly palpable; courses along the upper border of posterior digastric.

Clinical

Runs close to the styloid process; with an abnormally elongated styloid process (Eagle syndrome), this region can contribute to swallowing and throat pain.

Segmental innervation

Motor via the facial nerve (VII); no direct spinal segment.

In clinical practice

Elevates and retracts hyoid; elongation of the styloid process or calcification produces Eagle syndrome (cervicopharyngeal pain on swallowing).

Region in the model

Head and neck muscles (chewing, facial, and throat muscles)