[citation needed] The parotid gland is situated laterally to the styloid process, the external carotid artery passes by its apex, the facial nerve crosses its base, and the attachment of the stylopharyngeus muscle separates it from the internal jugular vein medially.

[citation needed] A small percentage of the population will suffer from an elongation of the styloid process and stylohyoid ligament calcification.

The tissues in the throat rub on the styloid process during the act of swallowing with resulting pain along the glossopharyngeal nerve.

Other symptoms may include voice alteration, cough, dizziness, migraines, occipital neuralgia, pain in teeth and jaw and sinusitis or bloodshot eyes.

[citation needed] This article incorporates text in the public domain from page 145 of the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)