Sternohyoid Muscle, Lateral View

Description

Running superficially in the anterior neck, the sternohyoid muscle appears as a vertical infrahyoid strap extending from the posterior surface of the manubrium sterni and the medial end of the clavicle to the inferior border of the corpus of the hyoid bone. From a lateral perspective in a male, its broad belly lies anterior to the visceral compartment and medial to the sternocleidomastoid, with the superior attachment reaching the hyoid just inferior to the suprahyoid muscles. Superiorly it approaches the thyrohyoid membrane region, while inferiorly it anchors to the sternum at the root of the neck. This lateral angle matters because the sternohyoid is a dependable surface landmark for understanding the infrahyoid layer and for orienting dissection planes between superficial cervical fascia, strap muscles, and the laryngeal framework. During thyroidectomy, tracheostomy, and anterior approaches to the larynx, surgeons often retract or divide the strap muscles along the midline raphe to expose the thyroid gland, trachea, and cricoid. Weakness or denervation of infrahyoid muscles can also alter hyoid and laryngeal depression, affecting swallowing mechanics and voice, a point commonly raised in neck surgery and speech pathology teaching. Clear and practical. Use this illustration in head and neck anatomy courses to teach the infrahyoid (strap) muscles, in operative anatomy figures explaining midline cervical exposure, or in patient education material describing neck incisions and postoperative swallowing changes. Anatomical accuracy verified by SciePro's Medical Advisory Board.