The word "geniohyoideus" is a mouthful to spell but can be broken down using IPA phonetic transcription. The first three letters "gen" are pronounced as the English word "jen", followed by "ee", pronounced as in "see", then "oh" like "go", "hy" similar to "high" and "oideus" as "oy-day-us". In essence, it is pronounced as "jen-ee-oh-high-oy-day-us". This word refers to a muscle located in the neck and jaw area which helps in swallowing and speaking.
Geniohyoideus is a term used in anatomy to describe a specific muscle located in the neck region. The geniohyoideus muscle is relatively small and belongs to a group of muscles known as the suprahyoid muscles. It originates from the mandible's mental spine, which is a bony projection located on the inner surface of the lower jawbone.
The muscle then extends downwards and its fibers converge to form a tendon, which inserts onto the hyoid bone. The hyoid bone, situated in the front of the neck, plays a significant role in supporting the tongue and assisting in various movements during swallowing and speech.
The primary function of the geniohyoideus is to raise and protrude the hyoid bone. This action, facilitated by contractions of the muscle, assists in controlling the position and movement of the tongue. Moreover, the geniohyoideus muscle contributes to stabilizing and positioning the hyoid bone during swallowing, speaking, and other activities involving tongue movement.
In terms of innervation, the geniohyoideus muscle is predominantly supplied by the nerve fibers from the hypoglossal nerve (cranial nerve XII). This nerve provides motor innervation to several muscles responsible for swallowing and tongue movements.
Understanding the anatomy and function of the geniohyoideus is crucial for healthcare professionals and researchers studying oral cavity and swallowing disorders, speech pathologists, and professionals in oromaxillofacial surgery, as well as anyone interested in human anatomy.
See under musculus.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
The word "geniohyoideus" has its roots in Latin and Greek.
The word consists of two main components: "genio" and "hyoideus".
"Genio" comes from the Latin word "gena", which means "chin" or "cheek". It is derived from the Greek word "genys", meaning "jaw" or "cheek".
"Hyoideus" is derived from the Greek word "hus", meaning "the letter 'u'". In anatomy, it specifically refers to the "hyoid bone", a U-shaped bone located in the neck.
Therefore, "geniohyoideus" is a combination of "genio" (related to the chin or cheek) and "hyoideus" (related to the hyoid bone).