Maxillo-hyoid muscle: anatomy, function and disease

The mandibular-hyoid muscle is a flat muscular plate located between the lower jaw and the hyoid bone. This muscle is often called the diaphragm of the oral cavity, since it is they who form the bottom of the cavity. The muscle delimits the face and neck.

Above muscular tissues is the salivary gland and tongue. The beginning of the maxillofacial muscle takes on the lower jaw, is directed backwards, towards the median line. The posterior fascicles of the muscle are attached to the hyoid bone.

general information

The jaw-hyoid muscle is flat, in the shape of an irregular triangle. On the opposite side is located a similar muscle. Connecting these muscles form a seam.

The exact shape and size of the muscle depends on the characteristics of the bone structure of the body. For example, if a person has a lower jaw longer, then the muscle has a small width, but its length is more than the average. With a short jawbone, the muscle is wider. The twin cranial-hyoid muscles form the bottom of the oral cavity. The contraction of two muscles simultaneously allows you to lower the jaw.

Features of the structure

The maxillo-hyoid line is the place where the same muscle begins. Between the bundles of muscles, small cracks form. Sometimes infections and purulent congestion from the oral cavity can spread through them. Slots are more often located directly under the tongue, near the second lower molar.

How does the muscle work?

The innervation of the muscle is ensured by the cranio-hyoid nerve, which passes through a special depression of the lower jaw (mandibular hyoid furrow). The main task of the body is to lower the lower jaw. This occurs only with the simultaneous reduction of paired muscles. Proper functioning allows a person to talk, swallow, chew food. Nutrition of these paired muscles is carried out with the help of cranio-hyoid arteries, which depart from larger lingual and facial.

Abscess and other lesions in this area

Sometimes the maxillofacial muscle is involved in the inflammatory process, which often leads to tissue suppuration. The lesion focus quickly captures new areas, gradually spreading to the entire surface of the muscle. Since all tissues that form the oral cavity, communicate with each other by blood vessels, the infection can spread to the tongue, nerves, salivary glands. In this case, doctors talk about phlegmon.

Phlegmon most often affects the maxillofacial groove, but it can also be localized in other areas of the bottom of the oral cavity:

• The space under the tongue is struck on both sides;
• The space under the tongue and under the lower jaw on one side is affected;
• Zones under the tongue and jaw from both sides are involved in the inflammatory process;
• The bottom of the mouth is completely infected.

Causes and manifestations

If the jaw-hyoid muscle is sore due to phlegmon, the reasons most likely are the following:

• Infection of teeth;
• Parodontosis;
• Periodontitis;
• osteomyelitis.

The clinical picture, as a rule, is as follows:

• Pain when trying to swallow or chew food;
• General malaise;
• Painful sensations during a conversation;
• Shortness of breath, shortness of breath.

Patients with phlegmon often tilt their head forward, open their mouths, and when sitting rest their chin on a chair, as this facilitates discomfort.

Infection leads to a general intoxication of the body, an increase in temperature, a change in the number of leukocytes in the blood. Often phlegmon leads to respiratory acidosis.

If tissues located below the jaw-hyoid muscle are infected, small tumors form on both sides. The skin above them is tense and hot to the touch. When trying to touch the affected areas, the patient experiences discomfort, and sometimes severe pain. Self-treatment is unacceptable. If symptoms appear, you should immediately make an appointment with a doctor, since the absence of therapy can lead to dangerous consequences. The inflammatory process often spreads to other tissues and organs.

Training of muscles to preserve youthfulness of the face

The maxilla-hyoid muscle is amenable to training, ensuring the preservation of the natural oval of the face. There are several simple exercises:

• Chin lift is considered effective. Sitting on a chair, tilt your head back, lifting your chin up. Now strain your muscles as if trying to get your chin to the ceiling.
• Stay in the same position with your head thrown back. Pull and compress your lips as if trying to kiss the ceiling.
• Open your eyes and mouth wide, try to reach the chin with your tongue.
• Effective are considered slow head inclinations forward, backward and to the sides.

The key rules of training the neck muscles look like this:

• Breathing needs to be carefully monitored;
• The eyes should be open;
• It is important to control blood pressure; The fact is that the static tension of the muscles, aggravated by the movements of the head, leads to a sharp change in this indicator;
• Sharp movements during training are forbidden; Any exercises perform smoothly, it is inadmissible to overload the chin too much;
• To achieve the result, the muscles must be tense constantly; Do not let the neck completely relax, as this will lead to a temporary loss of control over the muscles.

After completing the exercises, you can relax.

Regular training of the maxillofacial and other muscles of the neck allows you to achieve a smooth skin and keep a clear contour of the face, chin. Exercise tonifies the body, improves local blood circulation and nutrition of the oral organs.

The effect is noticeable after 2-3 weeks of regular practice. Not being able to visit cosmetologists and masseurs, you can take care of the muscles at home and even during the working day. To do this, it is sufficient to regularly perform 2-3 approaches of the simplest exercises: lifting the chin, rotating the head, tilting.