Mylohyoid muscle

The mylohyoid muscle is a muscle of the neck that connects the mandible (jaw bone) to the hyoid bone in the throat. When contracted, it pulls the mandible and hyoid bone together, usually during swallowing.

Located directly above the anterior belly of the digastric muscle, it is triangular and flat in shape. With help from the digastric muscle, it forms a muscular floor for the mouth cavity. It stretches from the symphysis in the front of the mouth cavity to the last molar tooth in the back, covering the whole length of the mylohyoid line of the mandible.

The fibers of the mylohyoid muscle connect with the hyoid bone. The back fibers run inferomedially and then go into the body of the hyoid bone.

Along with its place in the mouth cavity, it also has a role in the nervous system. The trigeminal nerve is the major nerve and the mandibular nerve is one of the nerves that makes up this mass of nerves. The mandibular nerve is also make up of the inferior alveolar nerve and this nerve is made up of the mylohyoid nerve. The mylohyoid nerve is located in the mylohyoid muscle.

Word Origin
The name mylohyoid comes from mylo, from the Greek for molar, referring to its attachment to the jaw bone, and hyoid, in reference to its attachment to the hyoid bone.