Sternothyroid (Left) (Musculus sternothyroideus)
Educational content only — not medical advice.
Anatomy
The sternothyroid is an infrahyoid strap muscle situated in the anterior triangle of the neck, deep to the sternohyoid. It spans vertically from the posterior surface of the manubrium sterni to the oblique line of the thyroid cartilage lamina. It functions primarily to depress the larynx following deglutition and vocalization.
Origin & insertion
From the posterior surface of the manubrium sterni and the posterior border of the first costal cartilage to the oblique line of the thyroid cartilage lamina.
Action
Depresses the larynx and thyroid cartilage after swallowing, assisting in opening the laryngeal inlet.
Innervation
Ansa cervicalis via anterior rami of cervical spinal nerves C1–C3.
Clinical notes
Retracted laterally or divided during thyroidectomy and anterior cervical spine approaches; preservation of ansa cervicalis innervation is necessary to preserve normal pitch control in singers.
Related structures
Educational references
FAQ
What is the role of the Sternothyroid (Left)?
The sternothyroid is an infrahyoid strap muscle situated in the anterior triangle of the neck, deep to the sternohyoid. It spans vertically from the posterior surface of the manubrium sterni to the oblique line of the thyroid cartilage lamina. It functions primarily to depress the larynx following deglutition and vocalization.
Why is the Sternothyroid (Left) clinically important?
Retracted laterally or divided during thyroidectomy and anterior cervical spine approaches; preservation of ansa cervicalis innervation is necessary to preserve normal pitch control in singers.
Source & license
BodyParts3D, © The Database Center for Life Science licensed under CC Attribution 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). license details