title: Stylohyoid ligament
text: # Stylohyoid ligament
  
  The stylohyoid ligament is a ligament that extends between the hyoid bone, and the temporal styloid process (of the temporal bone of the skull).
  
  ## Anatomy
  
  ### Attachments
  
  It attaches at the lesser horn of hyoid bone inferiorly, and (the apex of) the styloid process of the temporal bone superiorly.
  
  The ligament gives attachment to the superior-most fibres of the middle pharyngeal constrictor muscle.
  
  ### Relations
  
  The ligament is adjacent to the lateral wall of the oropharynx.
  
  Inferiorly, it is adjacent to th hyoglossus.
  
  ## Clinical significance
  
  The stylohyoid ligament frequently contains a little cartilage in its center, which is sometimes partially ossified in Eagle syndrome.
  
  ## Other animals
  
  In many animals, the epihyal is a distinct bone in the centre of the stylohyoid ligament, which is similar to that seen in Eagle syndrome.
  
  