Sternothyroid Muscles, Anterior View

Description

Centered in the anterior neck, the paired sternothyroid muscles appear as deep strap muscles lying posterior to sternohyoid and anterior to the thyroid gland and laryngeal framework. Each belly arises from the posterior surface of the manubrium and first costal cartilage, then ascends superiorly and slightly laterally to insert on the oblique line of the thyroid cartilage, inferior to the thyrohyoid. Superiorly, the hyoid bone and suprahyoid region sit above the infrahyoid compartment, while laterally the sternocleidomastoid margins frame the muscular column; the upper torso also shows superficial pectoralis major and deltoid as context for midline cervical anatomy. Facial muscles such as orbicularis oculi, zygomaticus, and masseter remain visible in grayscale as regional landmarks. Strap muscle layering is where learners often lose orientation during airway and thyroid surgery. Separating sternohyoid from sternothyroid clarifies the operative plane used in thyroidectomy and central neck dissection, where the midline raphe is opened and the strap muscles are retracted laterally to expose the thyroid lobes and anterior larynx. Functionally, sternothyroid depresses the larynx after swallowing and during phonation, counterbalancing suprahyoid elevation and helping restore resting position of the thyroid cartilage. Small muscle, big landmark. Use this illustration in head and neck anatomy teaching, otolaryngology and endocrine surgery manuals, and patient education materials that explain tracheostomy, thyroidectomy exposure, or the relationship of strap muscles to the larynx and thyroid gland. It also supports exam prep when distinguishing sternohyoid, sternothyroid, and thyrohyoid by attachments and depth. Anatomical accuracy verified by SciePro's Medical Advisory Board.