Download PDF
CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · Journal of Health and Allied Sciences NU 2012; 02(02): 51-53
DOI: 10.1055/s-0040-1703572
Case Report

BILATERAL OSSIFIED STYLOHYOID CHAIN - A CASE STUDY

Shivarama C. H.
1   PG /Tutor, Department of Anatomy, Yenepoya Medical College, Yenepoya University, Mangalore - 575 018, India
,
Bhat Shivarama
2   Associate Professor, Department of Anatomy, Yenepoya Medical College, Yenepoya University, Mangalore - 575 018, India
,
Radhakrishna Shetty K.
3   Assistant Professor, Department of Anatomy, Yenepoya Medical College, Yenepoya University, Mangalore - 575 018, India
,
Vikram S.
4   Assistant Professor, Department of Anatomy, Yenepoya Medical College, Yenepoya University, Mangalore - 575 018, India
,
Avadhani R.
5   Professor, Department of Anatomy, Yenepoya Medical College, Yenepoya University, Mangalore - 575 018, India
› Author Affiliations
› Further Information
Also available at
  PDF Download Permissions and Reprints

Abstract

The styloid process is a slender bony projection that arises from the inferior surface of the temporal bone just beneath the external auditory meatus and closely related to the stylomastoid foramen. The normal length of SP in an adult is considered to be 20 to 30mm however, it is very variably developed, ranging in length from a few millimetres to a few centimetres.

The styloid process is developed at the cranial end of cartilage in the second visceral or hyoid arch by two centers: a proximal, for the tympanohyal, appearing before birth; the other, for the distal stylohyal, after birth. But sometimes the stylohyoid chain may form, that extends between the temporal and hyoid bones which are divided into 4 sections: tympanohyal, stylohyal, ceratohyal and hypohyal. Cartilage that is embryo logically located at the stylohyoid ligament may undergo calcification of varying degrees, which causes variations. Ossified stylohyal ligament parts may merge or leave gaps in between. The anatomy of styloid process has immense embryological, clinical, surgical importance.

Keywords

Styloid process - Stylohyoid chain - Reichert's cartilage - Eagle's syndrome


Publication History

Article published online:
02 March 2020

© .

Thieme Medical and Scientific Publishers Private Ltd.
A-12, Second Floor, Sector -2, NOIDA -201301, India

 

  • References

  • 1 Williams PL. et al. Gray's Anatomy in: Giorgio Gabella. 38th Edition. Churchill livingstone, 1995, pp. 592-593,561-562,284.
  • 2 Eagle's syndrome and the Trauma patient. Funct Ortho. 1997; 2264: 916-925.
  • 3 Feldman VB. Eagle's syndrome: a case of symptomatic calcification of the stylohyoid ligaments. J Can Chiropr Assoc. 2003; 47(1):21-27.
  • 4 Eagle WW. The symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of the elongated styloid process. Am Surg. 1962; 28:1-5
  • 5 Eagle WW. Elongated styloid process. Arch Otolaryngol. 1937; 25:584–587.
  • 6 Winkler S, Sammartino FJ, Monari JH. Stylohyoid Syndrome. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol. 1981; 51:215-7.
  • 7 Eagle WW. Elongated styloid process: report of two cases. Arch Otolaryngol. 1937; 25:584-7.
  • 8 Gossman JR Jr, Tarsitano JJ. The styloid-stylohyoid syndrome. J Oral Surg. 1977; 35:555-60.
  • 9 Mukherjee P, Palit S, Tapadar A, Roy H., Asymmetrical bilateral ossification of stylohyoid chains – a case report with embryological review. International Journal of Anatomical Variations 2011; 4:134–138.