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The neck is a complex structure of bones, muscles, nerves, blood vessels, and connective tissues. Neck muscles support and stabilize the head, neck, and upper spine, enabling a range of movements. There are approximately 30 neck muscles, including anterior, lateral, and posterior muscles, each with distinct functions. One particular function of interest is the depression of certain structures, which is primarily performed by infrahyoid muscles such as the sternothyroid, omohyoid, and thyrohyoid. These muscles depress the hyoid bone and larynx, aiding in swallowing, breathing, and vocalization.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of neck muscles | 30 |
| Types of neck muscles | anterior (front), lateral (side) and posterior (back) |
| Anterior neck muscles | superficial, suprahyoid, infrahyoid, and scalene muscles |
| Superficial muscles | Largest muscles in the neck |
| Suprahyoid muscles | Move hyoid bone during swallowing and speaking |
| Infrahyoid muscles | Move larynx up and down |
| Scalene muscles | Move first two ribs up and down to inhale; help move the head and stabilize bones in the neck |
| Lateral neck muscles | Control head movements from the base of the skull |
| Posterior neck muscles | splenius muscles (splenius capitis and splenius cervicis) |
| Function of the cervical spine | Stabilize and maintain the head in a position that allows our eyes to be parallel to the ground |
| Omohyoid function | Depress the hyoid bone and larynx to reopen the laryngeal inlet after swallowing |
| Sternothyroid function | Depress the hyoid bone and larynx, and open the laryngeal inlet and reestablish breathing after swallowing |
| Thyrohyoid function | Depress the hyoid bone following its elevation during swallowing and vocalization |
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What You'll Learn
- The omohyoid is an infrahyoid muscle that depresses the hyoid bone and larynx
- The sternothyroid is another infrahyoid muscle that also depresses the hyoid bone and larynx
- The thyrohyoid is a quadrilateral infrahyoid muscle that depresses the hyoid bone
- The anterior vertebral muscles are a deep group of muscles that cause head flexion
- The splenius muscles are superficial muscles of the posterior neck
The omohyoid is an infrahyoid muscle that depresses the hyoid bone and larynx
The neck muscles are a complex musculoskeletal system that connects the base of the skull to the torso. There are about 30 neck muscles, which can be categorised as anterior (front), lateral (side) or posterior (back). The infrahyoid muscles are a group of four muscles that lie beneath the hyoid bone. They are the omohyoid, sternohyoid, sternothyroid, and thyrohyoid.
The infrahyoid muscles, along with the suprahyoid muscles, are responsible for the positioning of the hyoid bone and the larynx. The suprahyoid muscles lie above the hyoid bone and include the digastric, stylohyoid, mylohyoid, and geniohyoid muscles. When the infrahyoid muscles contract, they depress the hyoid bone, allowing the suprahyoid muscles to contract and depress the mandible. The hyoid muscles work together to stabilise the trachea and enable vital functions such as swallowing and speech.
The omohyoid muscle facilitates speech and swallowing by depressing the hyoid bone following its elevation during swallowing. This action reopens the laryngeal inlet, which is normally closed during swallowing to prevent inhalation. The infrahyoid muscles also play a role in singing, as they draw the larynx downwards for low notes and upwards for high notes.
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The sternothyroid is another infrahyoid muscle that also depresses the hyoid bone and larynx
The neck muscles are a complex musculoskeletal system that connects the base of the skull to the torso. There are about 30 neck muscles that support and stabilise the head, neck, and upper spine, and they help with various movements, including chewing, swallowing, and breathing.
The sternothyroid is one of the four infrahyoid muscles, which are anterior neck muscles present at the front of the neck. The other three infrahyoid muscles are the sternohyoid, omohyoid, and thyrohyoid. The sternothyroid is a paired strap muscle, meaning that it is made up of two parts that work together. It is comparatively wider and shorter than the other infrahyoid muscles.
The sternothyroid muscle helps to depress the hyoid bone and larynx, also known as the voice box. This means that it plays a crucial role in functions such as swallowing, speaking, and chewing. It also helps to protect other important structures in the neck. When the hyoid bone is fixed, the sternothyroid muscle elevates the larynx, which produces an increased voice pitch.
The infrahyoid muscles, including the sternothyroid, collectively pull the hyoid bone and larynx downward to their resting positions. This process reopens the laryngeal inlet after swallowing, allowing respiration to resume. This downward movement is also important when singing low notes.
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The thyrohyoid is a quadrilateral infrahyoid muscle that depresses the hyoid bone
The neck muscles are a complex musculoskeletal system that connects the base of the skull to the torso. There are about 30 neck muscles that support and stabilise the head, neck, and upper spine, while also allowing for a wide range of movements. These muscles are skeletal muscles, meaning they are attached to bones by tendons, and they are voluntary muscles, meaning we have control over their movement.
The thyrohyoid is a small, quadrilateral-shaped infrahyoid muscle. Infrahyoid muscles are a group of four muscles located below the hyoid bone. They are involved in moving the hyoid bone and thyroid cartilage during vocalisation, swallowing, and mastication. The infrahyoid muscles are also known as "strap muscles" as they connect the hyoid, sternum, clavicle, and scapula.
The thyrohyoid muscle is considered a cranial extension of the sternothyroid muscle. It originates from the oblique line of the lamina of thyroid cartilage and inserts on the inferior border of the body and greater horn of the hyoid bone. Unlike the other infrahyoid muscles, the thyrohyoid is not innervated by the ansa cervicalis. Instead, it is innervated by nerve fibres from the anterior rami of the first cervical spinal nerve (C1), which reaches the muscle via the hypoglossal nerve (CN XII).
The thyrohyoid has two major functions. Firstly, it acts in conjunction with the other infrahyoid muscles to depress the hyoid bone, which is helpful after swallowing. Secondly, when the hyoid bone is stabilised by the suprahyoid muscles, the thyrohyoid elevates the larynx, which is important for vocalists trying to hit high notes.
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The anterior vertebral muscles are a deep group of muscles that cause head flexion
The neck muscles are a complex musculoskeletal system that connects the base of the skull to the torso. There are about 30 neck muscles, which can be categorised into anterior (front), lateral (side), and posterior (back). The anterior vertebral muscles are a deep group of muscles that cause head flexion.
The cervical spine supports and moves the head and neck. It also protects the spinal cord, which exits the cranium through the cervical spine. The cervical vertebrae are the origination and insertion points for muscles that support and enable movement of the head and neck. These muscles can be divided into anterior, lateral, and posterior groups based on their position in the neck.
The sternocleidomastoid is a key landmark as it divides the neck into the anterior region and vertebral regions. The superficial muscles include the platysma and sternocleidomastoid, while the suprahyoid muscles include the digastric, mylohyoid, geniohyoid, and stylohyoid. The infrahyoid muscles include the sternohyoid, sternothyroid, thyrohyoid, and omohyoid.
The major muscle that laterally flexes and rotates the head is the sternocleidomastoid. Both muscles work together as flexors of the head. The posterior muscles of the neck are primarily concerned with head movements, such as extension. The back muscles stabilise and move the vertebral column and are grouped according to the lengths and direction of fascicles.
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The splenius muscles are superficial muscles of the posterior neck
The neck muscles are a complex musculoskeletal system that connects the base of the skull to the torso. There are about 30 neck muscles that support and stabilise the head, neck, and upper part of the spine. They also help with chewing, swallowing, and breathing.
The splenius muscles work together to extend the neck and perform lateral flexion of the neck, along with the upper trapezius and SCM muscles. They also contribute to the rotation of the neck to the same side as they are contracting on (ipsilateral rotation). The splenius muscles are innervated by the medial branches of the dorsal rami of spinal nerves C2-C6.
The superficial posterior musculature includes muscles such as the trapezius, latissmus dorsi, and serratus posterior. The superficial layer of intrinsic muscles is largely covered by the lattisimus dorsi, trapezius, levator scapulae, and rhomboid muscles.
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Frequently asked questions
Neck muscles are skeletal muscles that are attached to bones by tendons. There are about 30 of them, extending from the base of the skull and jaw down to the shoulder blades and collarbone. They support and stabilise your head, neck and the upper part of your spine.
There are three main categories of neck muscles: anterior (front), lateral (side) and posterior (back). They can be further broken down by type. Anterior neck muscles are arranged in four distinct regions, including superficial, suprahyoid, infrahyoid and scalene muscles.
Neck muscles help you do everything from chewing and swallowing to moving your head. They also assist with breathing.
Infrahyoid muscles are four muscles below the hyoid bone that move your larynx (voice box) up and down. The sternothyroid and thyrohyoid are infrahyoid muscles that function to depress the hyoid bone and larynx, and thereby open the laryngeal inlet and reestablish breathing after swallowing.
The cervical spine is the bony part of the neck. Its primary function is to stabilise and maintain the head in a position that allows our eyes to be parallel to the ground. This is crucial for the vestibular function, which assists in balance.
