Temporal styloid process

Styloid process (temporal)
Right side of the skull. Styloid process shown in red
Right temporal bone and mandible (styloid process labeled at bottom)
Details
Identifiers
Latin	Processus styloideus ossis temporalis
Dorlands /Elsevier	p_34/12667662
TA	A02.1.06.047
FMA	52877
*Anatomical terms of bone* [edit on Wikidata]

The temporal styloid process is a pointed piece of bone that extends down from the temporal bone of the human skull, just below the ear.

Structure

The styloid process is a slender pointed piece of bone just below the ear. It projects down and forward from the inferior surface of the temporal bone, and serves as an anchor point for several muscles associated with the tongue and larynx.

Its proximal part (tympanohyal) is ensheathed by the tympanic part of the temporal bone (vaginal process).
Its distal part (stylohyal) gives attachment to the following:
- stylohyoid ligament
- stylomandibular ligament
- styloglossus muscle (innervated by the hypoglossal nerve)
- stylohyoid muscle (innervated by the facial nerve)
- stylopharyngeus muscle (innervated by the glossopharyngeal nerve)

The stylohyoid ligament extends from the apex of the process to the lesser cornu of the hyoid bone, and can sometimes be partially or completely ossified.

A small percentage of the population will suffer from an elongation of the styloid process and stylohyoid ligament calcification. This condition is also known as Eagle syndrome. The tissues in the throat rub on the styloid process during the act of swallowing with resulting pain along the glossopharyngeal nerve. There is also pain upon turning the head or extending the tongue. Other symptoms may include voice alteration, cough, dizziness, migraines, occipital neuralgia, pain in teeth and jaw and sinusitis or bloodshot eyes.

Development

The styloid process arises from endochondral ossification of the cartilage from the second pharyngeal arch.

Additional images

Animation. Temporal styloid process shown in red.
Left temporal bone.
Inferior surface of left temporal bone. Styloid process shown in red.
External and middle ear, opened from the front. Right side. (Label for styloid process is bottom center.)
Left temporal bone. Outer surface. (Styloid process visible at center bottom.)
Articulation of the mandible. Medial aspect.
Extrinsic muscles of the tongue. Left side.
Dissection of the muscles of the palate from behind.
Styloid process.Base of skull.

References

This article incorporates text in the public domain from the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Temporal styloid process.

Anatomy photo:22:os-0407 at the SUNY Downstate Medical Center
Anatomy diagram: 25420.000-1 at Roche Lexicon - illustrated navigator, Elsevier
Anatomy diagram: 34257.000-1 at Roche Lexicon - illustrated navigator, Elsevier

The neurocranium of the skull

Occipital

Squamous part	external Inion/External occipital protuberance External occipital crest Nuchal lines planes Occipital Nuchal internal Cruciform eminence Internal occipital protuberance Sagittal sulcus Internal occipital crest Groove for transverse sinus

Lateral parts	Condyle Condyloid fossa Condylar canal Hypoglossal canal jugular Jugular process Jugular tubercle

Basilar part	Pharyngeal tubercle Clivus

Other	Foramen magnum Basion Opisthion

Parietal

Frontal

Squamous part	Frontal suture Frontal eminence external Superciliary arches Glabella foramina Supraorbital Cecum Zygomatic process internal Sagittal sulcus Frontal crest

Orbital part	Ethmoidal notch Fossa for lacrimal gland Trochlear fovea Frontal sinus Frontonasal duct

Temporal

Squamous part	Articular tubercle Suprameatal triangle Mandibular fossa Petrotympanic fissure Zygomatic process

Mastoid part	Mastoid foramen Mastoid process (Mastoid cells) Mastoid notch Occipital groove Sigmoid sulcus Mastoid antrum (Aditus)

Petrous part	Carotid canal Facial canal Hiatus Internal auditory meatus Cochlear aqueduct Stylomastoid foramen fossae Subarcuate fossa Jugular fossa canaliculi Inferior tympanic Mastoid Styloid process Petrosquamous suture (note: ossicles in petrous part, but not part of temporal bone)

Tympanic part	Suprameatal spine

Sphenoid

Surfaces	Superior surface: Sella turcica Dorsum sellae Tuberculum sellae Hypophysial fossa Posterior clinoid processes Ethmoidal spine Chiasmatic groove Middle clinoid process Petrosal process Clivus Lateral surface: Carotid groove Sphenoidal lingula Anterior surface: Sphenoidal sinuses

Great wings	foramina Rotundum Ovale Vesalii Spinosum Spine Infratemporal crest Sulcus of auditory tube

Small wings	Superior orbital fissure Anterior clinoid process Optic canal

Pterygoid processes	fossae Pterygoid Scaphoid pterygoid plates Lateral Medial Pterygoid canal Hamulus

Other	Body Sphenoidal conchae

Ethmoid

Plates	Cribriform plate Crista galli Olfactory foramina Perpendicular plate

Surfaces	Lateral surface Orbital lamina Uncinate process Medial surface Supreme nasal concha Superior nasal concha Superior meatus Middle nasal concha Middle meatus

Labyrinth	Ethmoid sinus ethmoidal foramina Posterior Anterior

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