Strap Muscles: Their Role And Importance In Your Body

what are some strap muscles

The infrahyoid muscles, also known as the strap muscles, are composed of four paired muscles: the sternohyoid, the sternothyroid, the omohyoid, and the thyrohyoid. These muscles are located in the anterior part of the neck, below the hyoid bone, and are involved in movements of the hyoid bone and thyroid cartilage during vocalization, swallowing, and mastication. They are responsible for depressing the hyoid bone during swallowing and play an active role in the movement of the larynx. The strap muscles are so-called because of their long and flat shape, resembling a strap or belt.

Characteristics Values
Number of muscles 4
Muscle names Sternohyoid, Sternothyroid, Thyrohyoid, Omohyoid
Muscle layers Superficial, Deep
Muscle functions Swallowing, Phonation, Gross movement of the larynx, Positioning of the larynx
Muscle shape Long and flat, resembling a strap or belt
Innervation Ansa cervicalis, Hypoglossal nerve
Arterial supply Superior thyroid artery, Lingual artery
Veins Superior vena cava, Internal jugular vein
Surgery considerations Injury to infrahyoid muscles during thyroid surgery may impact the patient's voice

cyvigor

Infrahyoid muscles are also known as strap muscles

The infrahyoid muscles are also referred to as strap muscles because of their long and flat shape, resembling a strap. They are a group of four paired muscles located in the anterior part of the neck, inferior to the hyoid bone. They include the omohyoid, sternothyroid, thyrohyoid, and sternohyoid muscles.

The infrahyoid muscles are important for several functions, including speech, swallowing, and the movement of the larynx. They work together with the suprahyoid muscle group to control the positioning of the hyoid bone. The omohyoid muscle, for example, has an additional function in ensuring proper venous blood return through its attachment to the carotid sheath. By pulling on the carotid sheath, it maintains low pressure in the internal jugular vein, increasing blood return to the superior vena cava.

The sternothyroid muscle is unique among the infrahyoid muscles as it does not directly attach to the hyoid bone. It originates from the posterior surface of the manubrium of the sternum and the costal cartilage of rib 1, inserting on the oblique line of thyroid cartilage. The sternohyoid muscle, on the other hand, originates from the posterior surface of the manubrium of the sternum and the posterior surface of the medial end of the clavicle, inserting on the inferior border of the hyoid bone.

The infrahyoid muscles are a critical consideration during surgery in the neck region, particularly during thyroid surgery. Injury to these muscles during surgery can impact a patient's voice and their ability to reach high pitches. Therefore, it is essential to carefully manage the incision of these muscles to avoid negative postoperative effects.

cyvigor

They are composed of four paired muscles

The strap muscles, also known as the infrahyoid muscles, are composed of four paired muscles. These muscles are located in the anterior part of the neck, below the hyoid bone. The hyoid bone is connected to the sternum, larynx, and scapula. The four paired muscles that make up the strap muscles are the sternohyoid, sternothyroid, thyrohyoid, and omohyoid.

The sternohyoid muscle is the most superficial of all the infrahyoid muscles. It originates from the posterior surface of the manubrium of the sternum and the posterior surface of the medial end of the clavicle. It inserts on the inferior border of the body of the hyoid bone. The sternohyoid is innervated by the ansa cervicalis (C1-C3) and receives its arterial supply from branches of the superior thyroid artery.

The sternothyroid muscle originates from the posterior surface of the manubrium of the sternum and the costal cartilage of rib 1. It inserts on the oblique line of thyroid cartilage. The sternothyroid is the only hyoid muscle that does not directly attach to the hyoid bone. It is innervated by the ansa cervicalis (C1-C3) and receives its arterial supply from branches of the superior thyroid and lingual arteries.

The thyrohyoid muscle elevates the larynx. It is innervated by fibres of the first cervical spinal nerve, which branches off the hypoglossal nerve. The thyrohyoid muscle receives its arterial supply from branches of the superior thyroid and lingual arteries.

The omohyoid muscle is found deep in the sternocleidomastoid and consists of two bellies (superior and inferior) united by an intermediate tendon. It originates from the upper border of the scapula and inserts into the lower border of the hyoid bone. The omohyoid is innervated by the superior ramus of the ansa cervicalis and the hypoglossal nerve. It receives its arterial supply from the superior thyroid and lingual arteries. The omohyoid also has an additional function in ensuring proper venous blood return through its attachment to the carotid sheath.

The strap muscles, or infrahyoid muscles, play an important role in several functions, including speech, swallowing, and the movement of the larynx. They are involved in the movement of the hyoid bone and thyroid cartilage during vocalization, swallowing, and mastication. The strap muscles are so-called because of their long and flat shape, resembling a strap or belt.

cyvigor

These muscles have both a superficial and deep layer

The infrahyoid muscles, also known as the strap muscles, are composed of four paired muscles. These muscles are located in the anterior part of the neck, below the hyoid bone. The hyoid bone is connected to the sternum, larynx, and scapula. The four infrahyoid muscles are the sternohyoid, sternothyroid, thyrohyoid, and omohyoid muscles.

These muscles have both a superficial layer, composed of the sternohyoid and omohyoid, and a deep layer, consisting of the sternothyroid and thyrohyoid. The sternohyoid muscle is the most superficial of all the infrahyoid muscles. The omohyoid muscle is found deep in the sternocleidomastoid and consists of two bellies (superior and inferior) united at an angle by an intermediate tendon. The thyrohyoid muscle elevates the larynx, while the sternothyroid depresses it. The omohyoid also has a function in ensuring proper venous blood return through its attachment to the carotid sheath.

The infrahyoid muscles are responsible for the positioning of the hyoid bone, along with the suprahyoid muscles. They play an active role in swallowing and the movement of the larynx. More specifically, all infrahyoid muscles (except the sternothyroid) depress the hyoid. The sternothyroid is the only hyoid muscle that does not directly attach to the hyoid bone. The sternothyroid lies in close relation to the capsule of the thyroid gland.

The strap muscles are ensheathed by the middle layer of the deep cervical fascia, forming one of the deep fascial compartments of the neck. The name "strap muscles" refers to their long and flat shape, similar to a belt or strap.

cyvigor

They are involved in movements of the hyoid bone

The infrahyoid muscles, also known as strap muscles, are composed of four paired muscles: the sternohyoid, the sternothyroid, the omohyoid, and the thyrohyoid. They are located inferiorly to the hyoid bone in the neck and are involved in movements of the hyoid bone and thyroid cartilage during vocalization, swallowing, and mastication.

The hyoid bone is a small U-shaped bone located in the anterior region of the neck. It is the only bone in the human body that does not articulate with any other bone directly. Instead, it is suspended by a complex network of muscles and ligaments that tether it to surrounding structures like the mandible, styloid processes of the temporal bone, sternum, and thyroid cartilage.

The infrahyoid muscles connect the hyoid bone to the sternum, larynx, and scapula. They work together with the suprahyoid muscle group to control the positioning of the hyoid bone. Specifically, all infrahyoid muscles (except the sternothyroid) depress the hyoid, while the sternothyroid depresses the larynx and the thyrohyoid elevates it. The omohyoid also has a unique function due to its attachment to the carotid sheath: by pulling on the sheath, it maintains low pressure in the internal jugular vein, increasing blood return from the head to the superior vena cava.

The sternothyroid muscle is unique among the hyoid muscles in that it does not directly attach to the hyoid bone. Instead, it originates from the posterior surface of the manubrium of the sternum and the costal cartilage of rib 1 and inserts on the oblique line of thyroid cartilage. It is innervated by the ansa cervicalis (C1-C3), arising from the cervical plexus.

The suprahyoid muscles, located superior to the hyoid bone, are primarily involved in elevating it. They include the stylohyoid, digastric, mylohyoid, and geniohyoid muscles. The stylohyoid muscle, for example, initiates a swallowing action by pulling the hyoid bone in a posterior and superior direction.

cyvigor

They are important for swallowing and phonation

The strap muscles, also known as the infrahyoid muscles, are composed of four paired muscles: the sternohyoid, the sternothyroid, the omohyoid, and the thyrohyoid. These muscles are important for swallowing and phonation.

Swallowing is a complex process involving a variety of muscles and nerves. It involves three distinct phases: the oral phase, the pharyngeal phase, and the oesophageal phase. The first phase is voluntary, while the latter two are reflex actions. The oral phase can be further divided into an oral preparatory phase and an oral propulsive phase. During the oral phase, food is manipulated and transported to the oropharynx. In the pharyngeal phase, a rapid phase of muscle contraction occurs, propelling the food through the upper oesophageal sphincter and into the oesophagus. The pharyngeal phase serves two primary purposes: directing food into the oesophagus and protecting the airway from aspiration. The oesophageal phase involves the peristaltic transport of food to the stomach.

The infrahyoid muscles play an active role in swallowing through the movement of the larynx. The omohyoid, sternohyoid, and thyrohyoid muscles depress the hyoid bone, while the thyrohyoid elevates the larynx, and the sternothyroid depresses it. This movement of the larynx is essential for the gross movement and positioning required during swallowing.

The strap muscles have also been shown to be important for phonation, or speech production. In general, the contraction of the strap muscles causes a decrease in the fundamental frequency (F0) of phonation. More specifically, the contraction of the sternohyoid and sternothyroid muscles corresponds to a rise in subglottic pressure, a shortened cricothyroid distance, a lengthened vocal fold, and a raised F0 and vocal intensity. Conversely, the thyrohyoid muscle corresponds to lowered subglottic pressure, a widened cricothyroid distance, a shortened vocal fold, and a lowered F0 and vocal intensity.

There is limited research on the physiological role and functional differences among the strap muscles. However, injury to the infrahyoid muscles during surgery has been shown to impact patients' voices, particularly their ability to reach high pitches.

Frequently asked questions

Strap muscles, also known as infrahyoid muscles, are a group of four paired muscles in the anterior neck below the hyoid bone. They are involved in movements of the hyoid bone and thyroid cartilage during vocalization, swallowing, and mastication.

The four infrahyoid muscles are the sternohyoid, sternothyroid, thyrohyoid, and omohyoid muscles.

The infrahyoid muscles play an important role in swallowing and the movement of the larynx. They are also involved in vocalization and mastication.

The superficial layer of the infrahyoid muscles is composed of the sternohyoid and omohyoid muscles. The deep layer consists of the sternothyroid and thyrohyoid muscles.

Written by
Reviewed by

Explore related products

Share this post
Print
Did this article help you?

Leave a comment