Corpus: Stylohyoid ligament
1. Definition
The stylohyoid ligament is a paired ligament that runs from the styloid process of the temporal bone to the small horn of the hyoid bone (cornu minus ossis hyoidei).
2. Background
The ligament develops during embryonic development from a cartilage clasp of the 2nd branchial arch, the Reichert cartilage, and may contain smaller cartilage parts.
3. Clinic
With increasing age, the ligament can calcify and cause swallowing difficulties (dysphagia), e.g., Eagle syndrome.