Stylomandibular

Stylomandibular refers to structures associated with the styloid process of the temporal bone and the mandible. The term most commonly denotes the stylomandibular ligament, a fibrous band that extends from the styloid process to the angle of the mandible. It is formed by a thickening of the deep cervical fascia and runs in proximity to the parotid gland and the lower border of the mandible.

As part of the extrinsic ligaments of the temporomandibular region, the stylomandibular ligament provides passive support to the mandible and helps limit excessive opening and protrusion of the jaw. Its primary role is to restrain movement rather than to enable hinge motion, working in concert with other ligaments such as the sphenomandibular ligament.

Clinically, the stylomandibular ligament serves as a useful anatomic landmark in surgical approaches to the mandible and the parotid region. It is typically intact in normal anatomy, though calcification or anomalous variations are described rarely and may be encountered in imaging or specific clinical contexts. Overall, the stylomandibular ligament is a comparatively slender component of the masticatory apparatus whose presence helps constrain jaw movement and stabilize the mandible within normal functional limits.