stylohyoid ligament

{{short description|Ligament}}

{{Infobox ligament

| Name = Stylohyoid ligament

| Latin = ligamentum stylohyoideum

| Image = Gray386.png

| Caption = Muscles of the neck. Anterior view.

| Image2 =

| Caption2 =

| From = Styloid process (temporal)

| To = Hyoid bone

}}

The stylohyoid ligament is a ligament that extends between the hyoid bone, and the temporal styloid process (of the temporal bone of the skull).

Anatomy

= Attachments =

It attaches at the lesser horn of the hyoid bone{{Cite book |last=Standring |first=Susan |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/1201341621 |title=Gray's Anatomy: The Anatomical Basis of Clinical Practice |year=2020 |isbn=978-0-7020-7707-4 |edition=42th |location=New York |pages=581 |oclc=1201341621}}{{Citation |last=White |first=Tim D. |title=Chapter 6 - Hyoid and Vertebrae |date=2012-01-01 |url=http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780123741349500064 |work=Human Osteology (Third Edition) |pages=129–147 |editor-last=White |editor-first=Tim D. |access-date=2021-01-06 |place=San Diego |publisher=Academic Press |language=en |isbn=978-0-12-374134-9 |last2=Black |first2=Michael T. |last3=Folkens |first3=Pieter A. |editor2-last=Black |editor2-first=Michael T. |editor3-last=Folkens |editor3-first=Pieter A.}} inferiorly,{{Citation needed|date=July 2023}} and (the apex of) the styloid process of the temporal bone superiorly.{{Citation needed|date=July 2023}}

The ligament gives attachment to the superior-most fibres of the middle pharyngeal constrictor muscle.

= Relations =

The ligament is adjacent to the lateral wall of the oropharynx.

Inferiorly, it is adjacent to the hyoglossus.

Clinical significance

The stylohyoid ligament frequently contains a little cartilage in its center, which is sometimes partially ossified in Eagle syndrome.{{Citation|last=Waldman|first=Steven D.|title=Chapter 14 - Eagle Syndrome|date=2014-01-01|url=http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9781455709991000149|work=Atlas of Uncommon Pain Syndromes (Third Edition)|pages=35–36|editor-last=Waldman|editor-first=Steven D.|place=Philadelphia|publisher=W.B. Saunders|language=en|isbn=978-1-4557-0999-1|access-date=2021-01-06}}

Other animals

In many animals, the epihyal is a distinct bone in the centre of the stylohyoid ligament, similar to that seen in Eagle syndrome.{{Citation needed|date=January 2021}}

References

{{Gray's}}

{{Reflist}}

Additional images

File:Ligamentum stylohyoideum ossifiziert.jpg|Ossified stylohyoid ligament or elongated styloid process