The stylohyoid is a
slender muscle. It is directed inferoanteriorly from its origin towards its insertion. It is perforated near its insertion by the intermediate
tendon of the
digastric muscle.
Origin The muscle arises from the posterior surface of the
temporal styloid process; it arises near the base of the process. It arises by a small tendon of origin.
Insertion The muscle inserts onto the
body of hyoid bone at the junction of the body and
greater cornu. It passes anterior to the intermediate tendon of the
digastric muscle and is inserted immediately superior to that of the superior belly of
omohyoid muscle.
Vasculature The stylohyoid muscle receives arterial supply branches of the
facial artery,
posterior auricular artery, and
occipital artery.
Innervation The stylohyoid muscle receives motor innervation from the
stylohyoid branch of
facial nerve (CN VII).
Relations The muscle is situated
anterosuperior to the posterior belly of the
digastric muscle.
Variation It may be absent or doubled. It may be situated medial to the
carotid artery. It may insert suprahyoid muscles of infrahyoid muscles.
Actions/movements The stylohyoid muscle elevates and retracts the hyoid bone (i.e. draws it superiorly and posteriorly). ==Function==