Which muscle runs from the mastoid region to the mandible via a sling around the hyoid bone?

• A. Digastric
• B. Mylohyoid
• C. Geniohyoid
• D. Sternohyoid

Answer: (A)

The muscle described is the digastric, which has two muscle bellies connected by an intermediate tendon that passes through a sling around the hyoid bone. The posterior belly originates from the mastoid region of the temporal bone and runs to the intermediate tendon, while the anterior belly runs from the mandible to that same tendon. The tendon’s loop around the body of the hyoid creates the sling, so the muscle effectively runs from the mastoid region to the mandible via the hyoid sling. This anatomical arrangement is unique to the digastric and explains why it’s involved in moving the mandible and hyoid. The other muscles do not form this mastoid-to-mandible path via a sling around the hyoid.