The stylohyoid muscle arises from the base of the styloid process and passes anteroinferiorly to attach to the lateral area of the body of the hyoid bone (Fig. 8.167). During swallowing it pulls the hyoid bone posterosuperiorly and it is innervated by the facial nerve [VII].
The digastric muscle has two bellies connected by a tendon, which attaches to the body of the hyoid bone (Fig. 8.167):