The stylohyoid muscle revisited: Anatomy and clinical implications

Abstract

The stylohyoid muscle, one of the four suprahyoid muscles and one of the three styloid muscles, is a small thin muscle running from the styloid process to the hyoid bone. It is intimately related to the styloid process and the styloid ligament. It draws the hyoid bone superiorly and posteriorly along with the posterior belly of the digastric muscle. It functions mainly during swallowing and opening of the mandible. Clinically, it has received much attention for its association with Eagle's syndrome. In this review, anatomic considerations with clinical implications of the stylohyoid muscle will be covered.