Geniohyoid
Last updated:
29/11/2025Della Barnes, an MS Anatomy graduate, blends medical research with accessible writing, simplifying complex anatomy for a better understanding and appreciation of human anatomy.
What Is the Geniohyoid
The geniohyoid is a thin, paired muscle located in the neck, along the chin. It belongs to the group of suprahyoid muscles along with the stylohyoid, mylohyoid, and digastric. Its name comes from its location between the chin and the hyoid bone; “genio” is the Latin word for “chin.” The muscle primarily coordinates the movement of the hyoid bone during activities like swallowing and speaking.
Anatomy
Location and Attachments
| Origin | Inferior mental spine of the mandible |
| Insertion | Upper front of the body of the hyoid bone |
Origin
It originates from a small tendon attached to the inferior mental spine on the inner surface of the mandible. This point lies just behind the lower part of the mandibular symphysis, the midline of the mandible, where the two halves of the mandible fuse in infancy.
Insertion
From its origin, the muscle fibers course inferiorly backward to insert into the upper front surface of the hyoid bone’s body.
Relations With Surrounding Muscles and Structures
The left and right geniohyoid muscles lie side by side along the midline on the floor of the mouth. They lie deep to the mylohyoid, along its medial borders. Superior to them lies the genioglossus, a major muscle of the tongue. Occasionally, the two geniohyoid muscles may fuse with each other or with the overlying genioglossus.
Function
| Action | — Elevating the hyoid bone to help with swallowing and vocalization — Depressing the mandible to help with chewing |
Movement of the hyoid when the mandible is fixed
The geniohyoid elevates and draws the hyoid bone forward, helping position the hyoid, tongue, larynx, and pharynx for the early phase of swallowing. Working with the mylohyoid and the anterior belly of the digastric, it moves the chewed food (bolus) toward the throat and initiates swallowing (deglutition).
The muscle also aids vocalization, as elevating the hyoid helps position the larynx for sound production.
Depressing the mandible when the hyoid is fixed
Like the other suprahyoid muscles, the geniohyoid also assists in depressing the mandible when the hyoid is stabilized by the infrahyoid muscles, aiding movements such as opening the mouth and chewing.
Antagonists
The infrahyoid muscles, sternohyoid, omohyoid, sternothyroid, and thyrohyoid, act as the primary antagonists because their primary function is to depress the hyoid bone.
Innervation
| Nerve | Anterior ramus of the C1 spinal nerve |
The muscle is innervated by the anterior ramus of the first cervical nerve (C1) that travels via the hypoglossal nerve (CN XII).
Blood Supply
| Artery | Lingual artery branches |
Branches of the lingual artery, which itself originates from the external carotid artery, provide blood supply to this muscle.
References
- Geniohyoid Muscle: Kenhub.com
- Geniohyoid: TeachMeAnatomy.info
- Geniohyoid Muscle: Elsevier.com
- Geniohyoid Muscle: Radiopaedia.org
- Geniohyoid Muscle: IMAIOS.com
Della Barnes, an MS Anatomy graduate, blends medical research with accessible writing, simplifying complex anatomy for a better understanding and appreciation of human anatomy.
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