Suprahyoid muscles

Definition

Suprahyoid muscles are a group of four muscles located above the hyoid bone in the neck, which function primarily to elevate the hyoid bone and larynx during swallowing and speech. These muscles include the digastric, stylohyoid, mylohyoid, and geniohyoid.

Related terms

Hyoid Bone:

A horseshoe-shaped bone located in the anterior midline of the neck between the chin and thyroid cartilage, serving as an anchor point for both suprahyoid and infrahyoid muscles.

Swallowing: A complex process involving multiple phases and muscle groups, including the suprahyoid muscles, to move food from the mouth through the pharynx to the esophagus.

Larynx:

Also known as the voice box, it is located in the neck above the trachea and below the pharynx; it houses vocal cords and is involved in breathing, producing sound, and protecting the trachea against food aspiration