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

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

Structure

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

Origin

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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

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

Innervation

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

Relations

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

Variations

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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

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

Clinical significance

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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

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References

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  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)
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