A small muscle that runs from the chin bone to the hyoid bone in the neck, helping to pull the hyoid bone forward when you swallow or move your jaw.
From Greek 'geneion' (chin) + 'hyoid' (U-shaped bone in the neck), literally naming a muscle that connects these two anatomical points.
This tiny muscle is crucial for the coordinated sequence of swallowing—it's one of the first muscles to contract, pulling the hyoid bone up and forward to protect your airway before food travels down your esophagus.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.