Anat Cell Biol.  2017 Sep;50(3):239-241. 10.5115/acb.2017.50.3.239.

Unusual muscle of the anterior neck: cadaveric findings with surgical applications

• Iwanaga J
• Tabira Y
• Fisahn C
• Alonso F
• Watanabe K
• Kusukawa J
• Oskouian R
• Tubbs RS
• Yamaki KI

• KMID: 2390486
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5115/acb.2017.50.3.239

Abstract

The omohyoid muscle typically has an inferior belly originating from the superior border of the scapula, and then passes deep to the sternocleidomastoid muscle where its superior belly passes almost vertically upward next to the lateral border of sternohyoid to attach to the inferior border of the body of the hyoid bone lateral to the insertion of sternohyoid. Herein, we report an unusual variant of the omohyoid and sternohyoid muscles. As the omohyoid muscle is commonly used as a surgical landmark during neck dissections, knowledge of its variations such as the one described in the current report is important to surgeons.

Keyword

Anatomic variation; Anatomy; Neck dissection; Neck muscles; Surgery

MeSH Terms

Anatomic Variation
Cadaver*
Hyoid Bone
Muscles
Neck Dissection
Neck Muscles
Neck*
Scapula
Surgeons

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Fusion of the right omohyoid and sternohyoid muscles. (A) Right side of the neck. (B) Enlarged image of Fig. 1A. Note the inferior tendon (arrowheads) crossing contralaterally. CCA, common carotid artery; HB, hyoid bone; IJV, internal jugular vein; TC, thyroid cartilage.

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  Fig. 2 Muscle bundle (arrows) from the left lobe of the thyroid gland ascending and joining the thyrohyoid muscle. CTM, cricothyroid muscle; T, trachea; TC, thyroid cartilage; TG, thyroid gland; TH, thyrohyoid muscle.

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