Sternothyroid muscle

Sternothyroid muscle
Sternothyroid visible center left
Section of the neck at about the level of the sixth cervical vertebra. Showing the arrangement of the fascia coli. (Sternothyroideus labeled at right, third from top.)
Details
OriginManubrium
InsertionThyroid cartilage
ArterySuperior thyroid artery
NerveAnsa cervicalis
ActionsDepresses thyroid cartilage
Identifiers
Latinmusculus sternothyroideus
TA98A04.2.04.006
TA22173
FMA13343
Anatomical terms of muscle
[edit on Wikidata]

The sternothyroid muscle (or sternothyroideus) is an infrahyoid muscle of the neck.[1] It acts to depress the hyoid bone.

Structure

The two muscles are in contact with each other proximally (close their origin), but diverge distally (towards their insertions).[1]

Origin

The sternothyroid arises from the posterior surface of the manubrium of the sternum (inferior to the origin of the sternohyoid muscle), and the posterior margin of the first costal cartilage.[1]

Insertion

It inserts onto the oblique line of the lamina of thyroid cartilage.[1]

Innervation

The sternothyroid muscle receives motor innervation from branches of the ansa cervicalis (ultimately derived from cervical spinal nerves C1-C3).[1]

Relations

The sternothyroid muscle is shorter and wider than the sternohyoid muscle and is situated deep to and partially medial to it.[1]

Variations

The muscle may be absent or doubled. It may issue accessory slips to the thyrohyoid muscle, inferior pharyngeal constrictor muscle, or the carotid sheath.

Actions/movements

The sternothyroid muscle depresses the hyoid bone. When the hyoid bone is fixed, it instead elevates the larynx (producing an increased voice pitch).[1]

Clinical significance

The upward extension of a thyroid swelling (goitre) is prevented by the attachment of the sternothyroid to the thyroid cartilage. A goitre can therefore only grow to the front, back or middle but no higher.

Additional images

  • Superficial dissection of the right side of the neck, showing the carotid and subclavian arteries.
    Superficial dissection of the right side of the neck, showing the carotid and subclavian arteries.
  • The fascia and middle thyroid veins.
    The fascia and middle thyroid veins.
  • Hypoglossal nerve, cervical plexus, and their branches.
    Hypoglossal nerve, cervical plexus, and their branches.
  • Side view of the larynx, showing muscular attachments.
    Side view of the larynx, showing muscular attachments.
  • Sternothyroid muscle
    Sternothyroid muscle

References

Public domain This article incorporates text in the public domain from page 393 of the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Standring, Susan (2020). Gray's Anatomy: The Anatomical Basis of Clinical Practice (42th ed.). New York. p. 582. ISBN 978-0-7020-7707-4. OCLC 1201341621.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)

External links

  • v
  • t
  • e
Muscles of the neck
CervicalSuboccipital
SuprahyoidInfrahyoidPharynxLarynxTracheaFasciae
Portal:
  • icon Anatomy
Authority control databases Edit this at Wikidata
  • Terminologia Anatomica