Illustrated Encyclopedia of Human Anatomic Variation: Opus I: Muscular System: Alphabetical Listing of Muscles: O

Omohyoideus, Sternohyoideus, Thyrohyoideus, Sternothyroideus, (Infrahyoid Muscles)

Ronald A. Bergman, PhD
Adel K. Afifi, MD, MS
Ryosuke Miyauchi, MD
Peer Review Status: Internally Peer Reviewed

The omohyoid is the most frequently absent of the infrahyoid group. One belly is absent more frequently than both bellies; the inferior belly may be doubled, with the second belly possibly arising from the coracoid process. The inferior belly may attach along the entire length of the clavicle. When the inferior belly is absent, the superior belly arises from the clavicle and the resulting muscle is named cleidohyoideus. The intermediate tendon of the omohyoid may be reduced to a tendinous inscription; in about 10% of cases it is absent. The inferior attachment may take place on the scapular spine, acromion, coracoid process, or even the first rib or clavicle. An extra fasciculus from the clavicle is found in 3% of individuals. Occasionally, a muscle is found extending from the sternum to the clavicle, behind the origin of sternocleidomastoideus. Another fascicle, usually arising behind the clavicular head of the sternocleidomastoid, may extend in various directions upwards toward the head. It frequently inserts onto the thyroid cartilage (cleidothyroideae) or onto the hyoid bone (cleidohyoideus). The insertion of the superior belly may overshoot the hyoid bone and attach alongside the digastric. A case has been reported of the fascial sling being muscular, resulting in a T-shaped, three-bellied omohyoid.

Unusual omohyoid forms include: cleidofascialis, which originates from the middle third of the clavicle and inserts into the fascia colli (neck); cleidohyoideus, which originates behind the origin of the cleidomastoid part of sternocleidomastoideus and inserts onto the body of the hyoid bone; and hyofascialis, which originates from the hyoid and inserts into the omosternoclavicular fascia.

Cervicocostohumeralis is considered as a case of extreme displacement of the omohyoid. Its origin is the lesser tubercle of the humerus and it insertions are the transverse processof the sixth cervical vertebra and cartilage of the first rib.

Thyrohyoideus may insert onto the cricoid cartilage. A cricohyoid muscle is described as a variant of thyrohyoid. The thyrohyoid is often continuous with the sternothyroid. The medial fibers on both sides of sternothyroideus may form a cruciate pattern. The muscle may exist in two strata, or it may be divided longitudinally into bundles; the lateral bundle may terminate in cervical fascia. A bundle of fibers, levator glandulae thyroideae, is sometimes found passing either from the lower border of the hyoid or from the thyroid cartilage to the lobe, isthmus, or pyramid of the thyroid gland. Included are those fibers joining the inferior constrictor of the pharynx to the thyroid gland. Mori classified the levator glandulae thyroideae into five types as follows. In a study of 210 levator glandulae muscles Mori reported:

1. Hyopyramidalis: origin; hyoid bone, insertion; tip of pyramidal lobe. 53 of 210 muscles, 25%.
2. Thyreopyramidalis: origin; thyroid cartilage, insertion; tip of pyramidal lobe. 18/210, 0.8%.
3. Thyreoglandularis: origin; thyroid cartilage, insertion; sheath of thyroid gland. 115/210, 54.7%.
4. Hyoglandularis: origin; hyoid bone, insertion; sheath of thyroid gland. 28/210, 13.3%.5) Tracheoglandularis: Upper trachea; insertion; capsule of isthmus of thyroid gland. 7/210, 3.3%.

Syn.: m. coracohyoideus (Riolan), costohyoideus (Santorini), omoplat- ouscapulo-hyoidien (Cruveilhier), Schulterblattzungenbeinmuskel, Schulterzungenbeinmuskel.

Hyofascialis.
from Toldt.

Levator Glandulae Thyroideae.
from Eisler.

Levator Glandulae Thyroideae.
5, Thyroid gland; 6, levator glandulae muscle; 7, trachea. from Eisler.

Levator Corporis Thyroidei Muscle
from Toldt

References

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Gruber, W. (1878) Ein den oberen Bauch des Omohyoideus (bei Mangel des unteren Bauches des letzteren) repräsentirender Musculus hyofascialis. Gruber, W. (1879) Musculus hyo-fascialis. Arch. Path. Anat. Physiol. Klin. Med. 77:123.

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