Geniohyoid Muscle Quick Facts
Origin: Inferior mental spine of mandible.
Insertion: Body of hyoid bone.
Action: Depresses mandible; elevates hyoid bone.
Innervation: First cervical nerve (C1), via hypoglossal nerve (CN XII).
Arterial Supply: Suprahyoid branch of lingual artery.
Geniohyoid Muscle Origin
The geniohyoid muscle arises from the inferior mental (genial) spines of the mandible.
Geniohyoid Muscle Insertion
The geniohyoid muscle extends posteriorly and inferiorly to the anterior surface of the body of the hyoid bone.
Geniohyoid Muscle Key Features & Anatomical Relations
The geniohyoid muscle sits superior to the medial portion of the mylohyoid muscle. Occasionally, it fuses with its contralateral muscle or with genioglossus muscle.
Geniohyoid Muscle Actions
The geniohyoid muscle is involved in multiple actions:
elevates the hyoid bone and pulls it anteriorly;
depresses the mandible at the temporomandibular joint (Standring, 2016).
Geniohyoid Muscle References
Standring, S. (2016) Gray's Anatomy: The Anatomical Basis of Clinical Practice. Gray's Anatomy Series 41st edn.: Elsevier Limited.
