Browse the corpus

Walk the Even Hospital Database by book and chapter — the raw source passages that ground Ask, DDx, and the rest.

1 passage

introductionstatpearls· Introduction· item NBK546710

The neck contains multiple muscles, classified in part by their relationship to the hyoid bone. Muscles above the hyoid bone are termed "suprahyoid muscles," while those below are called "infrahyoid muscles." Suprahyoid muscles facilitate chewing, swallowing, and phonation. Along with the infrahyoid muscles, suprahyoid muscles stabilize the hyoid, which lacks articulation with other bones. These muscles likewise assist with neck flexion.[1] The suprahyoid muscles are positioned between 2 bony landmarks, the base of the mandible superiorly and the hyoid bone inferiorly. These muscles are organized into 4 pairs on each side of the midline, as follows (see Image. Suprahyoid Muscles): Digastric [2] Stylohyoid [3] Mylohyoid [4] Geniohyoid [5] Suprahyoid muscles play a crucial role in airway management, as their dysfunction can contribute to obstructive sleep apnea and complications during intubation. Surgically, these neck muscles are important landmarks in procedures such as submandibular gland excision and reconstruction approaches involving the floor of the mouth. Understanding the anatomy and function of suprahyoid muscles aids in diagnosing and treating conditions affecting swallowing, speech, and airway patency.