Omohyoid Muscle, Lateral View

Description

Running obliquely across the lateral neck, the omohyoid is rendered with its inferior belly arising from the superior border of the scapula near the suprascapular notch and its superior belly inserting on the inferior border of the hyoid bone. Between the two bellies, the intermediate tendon is tethered to the clavicle by a fascial sling, positioning the muscle deep to the platysma and superficial cervical fascia but superficial to deeper infrahyoid and visceral planes. Anteriorly, the superior belly approaches the sternohyoid and sternothyroid region, while posteriorly it lies near the posterior triangle contents, with the sternocleidomastoid forming the dominant superficial landmark. Vascular elements in the carotid triangle are suggested in relation to the muscle’s course. Small, but specific. Lateral orientation matters because the omohyoid partitions the posterior triangle into occipital and supraclavicular (omoclavicular) triangles, a practical map for neck dissection, lymph node level assignment, and locating the spinal accessory nerve as it crosses the triangle toward trapezius. The intermediate tendon and its fascial sling also explain why the internal jugular vein can appear tented open when the omohyoid contracts, a point that comes up during central venous access and in discussions of air embolism risk. Denervation by the ansa cervicalis (C1 to C3) and infrahyoid dysfunction after anterior neck surgery often make more sense once you see the superior belly’s pull on the hyoid during swallowing and phonation. Use this plate for head and neck anatomy labs, surgical anatomy teaching for thyroidectomy and neck dissection, and as a clean figure for otolaryngology and radiology texts when correlating triangle boundaries with ultrasound or CT landmarks. It also works well in clinical skills modules that tie surface anatomy to internal topography of the lateral cervical region. Anatomical accuracy verified by SciePro's Medical Advisory Board.