Mylohyoid Muscle Anatomy

The mylohyoid muscle is a flat, triangular muscle located in the anterior neck, forming the floor of the oral cavity. It extends from the mandible to the hyoid bone.
The mylohyoid muscle is a crucial component of the oral cavity, playing a significant role in swallowing, speech, and support of the floor of the mouth.
Mylohyoid Muscle Anatomy
The mylohyoid muscle is a thin, sheet-like muscle with a distinctive fan shape that originates from the mylohyoid line on the internal surface of the mandible and insert on the body of the hyoid bone and the median fibrous raphe.
Its fibers run medially and slightly inferiorly from the mandible. The anterior fibers are nearly horizontal, while the posterior fibers are more oblique. The right and left mylohyoid muscles join at the median fibrous raphe, creating a sling-like structure.
Blood supply to the mylohyoid muscle comes primarily from the sublingual branch of the lingual artery and the submental branch of the facial artery.
Its innervation comes from the mylohyoid nerve, a branch of the inferior alveolar nerve (from the mandibular division of the trigeminal nerve, CN V3).
The Primary function of the mylohyoid muscle is to elevates the floor of the mouth and the tongue during swallowing, it also assists in the first stage of deglutition by pressing the tongue against the hard palate.
See Also: Sternocleidomastoid Muscle Anatomy
It also:
- Contributes to speech articulation
- Supports and stabilizes the suprahyoid region
- Assists in mandibular depression when the hyoid is fixed

Origin | Mylohyoid line of mandible |
Insertion | Mylohyoid raphe, body of hyoid bone |
Innervation | mylohyoid nerve a branch of inferior alveolar nerve (CN V3) |
Blood Supply | Sublingual, inferior alveolar and submental arteries |
Action | Forms floor of oral cavity, elevates hyoid bone and floor of mouth, depresses mandible |
Clinical Relevance
Mylohyoid boutonnière: A potential pathway for infection spread between the submandibular and sublingual spaces
Surgical considerations: Important landmark in neck dissections and oral surgeries
Dysphagia: Weakness or dysfunction can contribute to swallowing difficulties
Ludwig’s angina: Infection can spread along the mylohyoid muscle
Embryological Development
The mylohyoid muscle develops from the first pharyngeal arch mesoderm, specifically from the ventral portion of the mandibular prominence. This origin explains its innervation by the trigeminal nerve, which is associated with first arch structures.
Related Structures
- Superior: Oral mucosa, sublingual gland
- Inferior: Anterior belly of digastric muscle, submandibular gland
- Lateral: Mandible
- Medial: Geniohyoid and genioglossus muscles
- Posterior: Hyoglossus muscle

Summary
The mylohyoid muscle is a vital structure in the floor of the mouth, crucial for swallowing and speech. Its unique anatomy, from its mandibular origin to hyoid insertion, creates a sling-like support for the oral cavity. Innervated by the mylohyoid nerve and supplied by branches of the lingual and facial arteries, it plays a significant role in the first stage of deglutition and oral function. Understanding its embryological origin, relationships to nearby structures, and clinical implications is essential for medical students studying head and neck anatomy.
References & More
- Gray’s Anatomy: The Anatomical Basis of Clinical Practice
- Clinically Oriented Anatomy – 8th Edition
- Toth J, Lappin SL. Anatomy, Head and Neck, Mylohyoid Muscle. [Updated 2023 Jun 5]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2024 Jan-. Available from: Pubmed
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