Logan Steele
The thyrohyoid muscle is a small, quadrilateral-shaped muscle located in the anterior neck region between the thyroid cartilage of the larynx and hyoid bone. Its primary function is to depress and fix the hyoid bone and larynx, although it may also elevate the larynx when the hyoid bone is fixed. The thyrohyoid muscle is innervated by the hypoglossal nerve, which carries motor fibres to several muscles, including the thyrohyoid, hyoglossus, styloglossus, genioglossus, and geniohyoid muscles. The hypoglossal nerve is formed by fibres of the cervical spinal nerve 1 (C1) and, according to some sources, cervical spinal nerve 2 (C2), which join and travel with the hypoglossal nerve before splitting away from it distal to the superior root of the ansa cervicalis.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Innervation | Branch of the cervical plexus - the nerve to thyrohyoid muscle (thyrohyoid branch of ansa cervicalis) |
| Anterior ramus of C1, carried within the hypoglossal nerve | |
| Ventral ramus of C1 | |
| Function | Depresses and fixates the hyoid bone |
| Elevates the larynx during swallowing | |
| Controls the position and shape of the larynx | |
| Aids in making sound | |
| Blood supply | Superior thyroid artery (branch of the external carotid artery) |
| Inferior thyroid artery (branch of the thyrocervical trunk) | |
| Branches of the lingual artery | |
| Location | Infrahyoid muscle of the neck |
| Located in the anterior neck region between the thyroid cartilage of the larynx and hyoid bone |
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What You'll Learn
The nerve to the thyrohyoid muscle
The cervical plexus is a network of nerves formed by the anterior primary branches of the upper four cervical spinal nerves (C1-C4). These nerves emerge from the spinal cord and supply the neck and head regions.
The thyrohyoid muscle is a small, quadrilateral-shaped muscle located in the anterior neck region, between the thyroid cartilage of the larynx and the hyoid bone. It is the only infrahyoid muscle that is not innervated via the ansa cervicalis.
The thyrohyoid muscle is involved in controlling the position and shape of the larynx, which aids in making sound. It receives its blood supply from branches of the superior thyroid artery and inferior thyroid artery.
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The cervical plexus
The thyrohyoid muscle is innervated by a branch of the cervical plexus, which is a network of nerve fibres that supplies innervation to some of the structures in the neck and trunk. The cervical plexus is formed by the anterior rami of spinal nerves C1-C4, with C5 sometimes included due to its role in forming one of the cervical plexus's motor branches. The cervical plexus is located in the posterior triangle of the neck, within the prevertebral layer of cervical fascia, and it has both superficial and deep components.
The branches of the cervical plexus supply innervation to various structures in the head, neck, and trunk. For example, the great auricular nerve, formed by C2 and C3, supplies sensation to the skin over the parotid gland, while the transverse cervical nerve, also formed by C2 and C3, supplies the skin along the anterior triangle of the neck. The supraclavicular nerves, arising from C3 and C4, supply the skin over the shoulder and upper pectoral region.
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The hypoglossal nerve
The nerve consists of four branches: the meningeal, descending, thyrothyroid, and muscular. However, only the muscular branch is considered the true hypoglossal nerve, originating from the nucleus. The other branches originate from spinal nerves, primarily C1 and C2, or the cervical ganglia. The C1 and C2 roots that travel with the hypoglossal nerve have motor functions, innervating muscles such as the geniohyoid and thyrohyoid.
The thyrohyoid muscle is innervated by the nerve to the thyrohyoid muscle (thyrohyoid branch of ansa cervicalis), which is formed by fibres of the cervical spinal nerve 1 (C1) and, according to some sources, cervical spinal nerve 2 (C2). These fibres travel with the hypoglossal nerve before splitting away from it distal to the superior root of the ansa cervicalis.
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The geniohyoid muscle
The muscle is innervated by the anterior ramus of spinal nerve C1, carried by the hypoglossal nerve. The hypoglossal nerve also innervates the intrinsic and extrinsic muscles of the tongue, i.e., the genioglossus muscle (medial branch), the styloglossus (SG), and hyoglossus (HG) muscles (lateral branch). The geniohyoid muscle receives its blood supply from the sublingual branch of the lingual artery.
The main function of the geniohyoid muscle is to elevate the hyoid bone and draw it forward, which assists in respiration by dilating the upper airway. It also assists in depressing the mandible. During swallowing, the geniohyoid muscle helps to widen the pharynx, ready to receive food. It also plays a role in voice production by the vocal cords.
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The hyoid bone
The thyrohyoid muscle is innervated by a branch of the cervical plexus—specifically, the nerve to the thyrohyoid muscle (thyrohyoid branch of ansa cervicalis). The thyrohyoid muscle is involved in depressing and fixating the hyoid bone, which is a horseshoe- or 'U'-shaped bone situated in the anterior midline of the neck between the chin and the thyroid cartilage. The hyoid bone is the only bone in the human body that is not connected to any other bones and is instead anchored by muscles and ligaments.
The lesser horns are two small, conical eminences attached by their bases to the angles of junction between the body and greater horns. They are connected to the body of the bone by fibrous tissue and occasionally to the greater horns by distinct diarthrodial joints. The apex of each horn gives attachment to the stylohyoid ligament, while the chondroglossus rises from the medial side of the base. The hyoid bone provides attachment sites for the muscles of the floor of the mouth and the tongue above, the larynx below, and the epiglottis and pharynx behind.
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Frequently asked questions
The thyrohyoid is a small, quadrilateral-shaped neck muscle located in the anterior neck region between the thyroid cartilage of the larynx and hyoid bone.
The thyrohyoid muscle depresses and fixates the hyoid bone. It elevates the larynx during swallowing. By controlling the position and shape of the larynx, it aids in making sound.
The thyrohyoid muscle is innervated by a branch of the cervical plexus - the nerve to thyrohyoid muscle (thyrohyoid branch of ansa cervicalis) - which is formed by fibres of the cervical spinal nerve 1 (C1).
The thyrohyoid muscle receives its blood supply from branches of the superior thyroid artery and the inferior thyroid artery.
