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Mylohyoid Swallowing Function — NDEB AFK MCQ

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ModerateBiomedical SciencesMylohyoid Swallowing FunctionNDEB AFK

Which of the following muscles elevates the hyoid bone and floor of the mouth during the first stage of swallowing?

Educational content. Not a substitute for clinical judgement or local policy.

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Correct answer: BMylohyoid

The mylohyoid (innervated by the mylohyoid nerve from V3) elevates the hyoid bone and floor of the mouth during swallowing, forming the muscular diaphragm of the oral floor. Along with the geniohyoid, anterior belly of digastric, and stylohyoid, it constitutes the suprahyoid muscle group. Elevation of the hyoid is critical for the first (oral) phase of swallowing, propelling the food bolus posteriorly. The infrahyoid muscles (sternohyoid, omohyoid, thyrohyoid, sternothyroid) depress the hyoid.

Reference: Moore – Clinically Oriented Anatomy, 9th ed., 2019