Head and neck muscles (chewing, facial, and throat muscles)

Sternohyoid

Musculus sternohyoideus

Origin

Posterior surface of the manubrium of the sternum and the medial end of the clavicle

Insertion

Lower border of the body of the hyoid bone

Function

Pulls the hyoid bone downward after elevation during swallowing or speaking

Innervation

Ansa cervicalis (C1–C3)

Movement & chain

Part of the infrahyoid muscle group; works together with omohyoid to pull the hyoid bone down after the suprahyoid muscles have elevated it.

Palpation

Palpable in the anterior cervical triangle between the sternum and hyoid bone.

Clinical

Retracted alongside sternothyroid during thyroid surgery ('strap muscles') to expose the thyroid gland.

Segmental innervation

C1–C3 via the ansa cervicalis of the cervical plexus.

In clinical practice

Infrahyoid strap muscle; divided or mobilized along the linea alba cervicalis during thyroidectomy and open tracheostomy.

Region in the model

Head and neck muscles (chewing, facial, and throat muscles)