Just above the hyoid bone there is a small group of muscles known as the suprahyoid muscles. These muscles include the digastric muscles, the stylohoid muscles, and the mylohoid muscles.
The anterior section of the double bellied digastric muscle can be found along the mandible at the chin. The posterior regiong of this muscle is located along the mastoid process of the temporal bone. Despite its dual origination points, it still has only one insertion point, the hyoid bone. The digastric muscle serves two purposes, the opening of the mouth as well as affecting the hyoid bone through elevation. Contraction of this muscle results in elevation of the floor of the mouth.
The swallowing process is assisted by the mylohoid muscle, as its contraction helps to force food into the back of the mouth and sometimes into the pharynx. Its origination point runs along the floor of the mouth, along the mandible, and runs to its insertion point, the median raphe and the body of the hyoid bone.
The stylohoid muscle is long and skinny, originates along the styloid process of the skull and inserts along the hyoid bone. Contraction leads to elevation of the hyoid bone. While this muscle is not necessarily designed to elevate the base of the tongue, it is a distinct and consistent by product of the contraction process.
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Suprahyoid muscles
