Stylohyoid muscle greater cornu, and just superior the omohyoid muscle. It thus belongs to the group of suprahyoid muscles. When contracted, it elevates the hyoid, this action is primarily brought about during swallowing. It is perforated, near its insertion, by the intermediate tendon of the digastric muscle. A branch from the extracranial path of the facial nerve (CN VII) innervates the Stylohyoid muscle. It may be absent or doubled, lie beneath the carotid artery, or be inserted into the omohyoid, or mylohyoid muscles. The stylohyoid muscle elevates and retracts hyoid bone.Initiates a swallowing action by pulling the hyoid bone in a posterior
Skeletal muscle "flexor" and "extensor"; "abductor" and "adductor"; "levator" and "depressor"; "supinator" and "pronator"; "sphincter", "tensor", and "rotator" muscles. A flexor muscle decreases the anterior angle at a joint; an extensor increases the anterior angle at a joint. An abductor moves a bone away from the midline; an adductor moves a bone closer to the midline. A levator raises a structure; a depressor moves a structure down. A supinator turns the palm of the hand up; a pronator turns the palm down. A sphincter decreases the size of an opening; a tensor tenses a body part; a rotator turns a bone around