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Sternohyoid muscle

Last revised by Robin Yang on 2 Aug 2021

Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data

Citation:

Ariyasinghe C, Yang R, Hacking C, et al. Sternohyoid muscle. Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 09 Dec 2024) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-38276

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-38276

Permalink:

https://radiopaedia.org/articles/38276

rID:

38276

Article created:

13 Jul 2015, Chamath Ariyasinghe

Disclosures:

At the time the article was created Chamath Ariyasinghe had no recorded disclosures.

View Chamath Ariyasinghe's current disclosures

Last revised:

2 Aug 2021, Robin Yang

Disclosures:

At the time the article was last revised Robin Yang had no recorded disclosures.

View Robin Yang's current disclosures

Revisions:

4 times, by 4 contributors - see full revision history and disclosures

Systems:

Head & Neck

Sections:

Anatomy

Synonyms:

Sternohyoid muscles

The sternohyoid muscle is an infrahyoid muscle of the neck that is innervated by the ansa cervicalis of the cervical plexus receiving fibers from the ventral rami of C1-C3 spinal nerves. The sternohyoid is a paired, flat strap of muscle that serves to fix the hyoid bone as well as depressing the larynx in phonation and in the terminal phase of swallowing.

origin: posterior surface of manubrium sterni and the sternoclavicular joint
insertion: lower body of the hyoid bone
innervation: anterior rami of C1-C3 spinal nerves through the ansa cervicalis of the cervical plexus
action:
- depresses and fixes the hyoid bone
- draws the hyoid bone and underlying larynx downwards in phonation and the terminal phase of swallowing

Gross anatomy

Origin

The sternohyoid muscles are paired muscles that originate from the upper posterior surface of the manubrium and sternoclavicular joints.

Insertion

The muscles travel vertically to insert on the lower border of the hyoid bone. At their insertion on the hyoid bone the sternohyoid muscles lie edge-to-edge however diverge around the laryngeal prominence (Adam’s apple), which protrudes between them.

Relations

The sternohyoid muscle is one of the infrahyoid “strap” muscles. It is superficial to the sternothyroid and thyrohyoid muscles and inserts just medial to the superior belly of the omohyoid muscle on the inferior border of the hyoid bone.

Blood supply

The sternohyoid muscle receives its blood supply from the lingual and superior thyroid arteries.

Nerve supply

The sternohyoid muscles are innervated by the anterior rami of C1 – C3 (predominantly C2 and C3) through the ansa cervicalis of the cervical plexus.

Action

The sternohyoid muscle primarily depresses and fixes the hyoid bone and underlying larynx. Electromyographic studies have also demonstrated the muscle is involved in phonation by depressing the hyoid bone and underlying larynx.

References

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