Which muscle depresses the hyoid bone?

Enhance your understanding of dental occlusion, muscles, and movements. Prepare with interactive flashcards and detailed multiple choice questions. Gain insights with comprehensive explanations to excel in your dental exams!

Multiple Choice

Which muscle depresses the hyoid bone?

Explanation:
Depressing the hyoid bone is done by the infrahyoid muscles pulling the hyoid downward toward the sternum after swallowing. The sternohyoid originates from the sternum and inserts into the hyoid, so its contraction pulls the hyoid downward. In contrast, the stylohyoid elevates and retracts the hyoid, while the geniohyoid and the mylohyoid elevate the floor of the mouth and the hyoid. Therefore, the muscle that depresses the hyoid is the sternohyoid.

Depressing the hyoid bone is done by the infrahyoid muscles pulling the hyoid downward toward the sternum after swallowing. The sternohyoid originates from the sternum and inserts into the hyoid, so its contraction pulls the hyoid downward. In contrast, the stylohyoid elevates and retracts the hyoid, while the geniohyoid and the mylohyoid elevate the floor of the mouth and the hyoid. Therefore, the muscle that depresses the hyoid is the sternohyoid.

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