Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 17, 2026

Thyrohyoid muscle

The thyrohyoid muscle is a small skeletal muscle of the neck. Above, it attaches onto the greater cornu of the hyoid bone; below, it attaches onto the oblique line of the thyroid cartilage. It is innervated by fibres derived from the cervical spinal nerve 1 that run with the hypoglossal nerve to reach this muscle. The thyrohyoid muscle depresses the hyoid bone and elevates the larynx during swallowing. By controlling the position and shape of the larynx, it aids in making sound.

Last revised
Jul 17, 2026
Read time
≈ 3 min
Length
675 w
Citations
57
Source
Wikipedia ↗
Thyrohyoid muscle
Muscles of the neck. Lateral view. (Thyrohyoideus labeled center-left.)
Muscles of the neck. Anterior view. (Thyrohyoideus visible center-left.)
Details
OriginThyroid cartilage of the larynx
InsertionHyoid bone
ArterySuperior thyroid artery
NerveFirst cervical nerve (C1) via hypoglossal nerve
ActionsElevates thyroid and depresses the hyoid bone
Identifiers
Latinmusculus thyrohyoideus
TA98A04.2.04.007
TA22174
FMA13344
Anatomical terms of muscle

The thyrohyoid muscle is a small skeletal muscle of the neck. Above, it attaches onto the greater cornu of the hyoid bone; below, it attaches onto the oblique line of the thyroid cartilage. It is innervated by fibres derived from the cervical spinal nerve 1 that run with the hypoglossal nerve (CN XII) to reach this muscle. The thyrohyoid muscle depresses the hyoid bone and elevates the larynx during swallowing. By controlling the position and shape of the larynx, it aids in making sound.

Structure

The thyrohyoid muscle is a small,1 broad and short muscle.2 It is quadrilateral in shape.1 It may be considered a superior-ward continuation of sternothyroid muscle.1

It belongs to the infrahyoid muscles group and the outer laryngeal muscle group.3: 567–568 

Attachments

Its superior attachmentnote 11 is the inferior border1 of the greater cornu of the hyoid bone213: 538  and adjacent portions of the body of hyoid bone.1

Its inferior attachmentnote 21 is the oblique line of the thyroid cartilage (alongside the sternothyroid muscle1).213: 538 

Innervation

The thyrohyoid muscle is innervated (along with the geniohyoid muscle13: 457, 709 ) by a branch of the cervical plexus43: 538  - the nerve to thyrohyoid muscle (thyrohyoid branch of ansa cervicalis)4 - which is formed by fibres of the cervical spinal nerve 1 (C1)123: 538  (and - according to some sources - cervical spinal nerve 2 as well43: 457 ) that join and travel with the hypoglossal nerve (CN XII)2 before splitting away from it12 distal to the superior root of ansa cervicalis.13: 709  The thyrohyoid muscle is the only infrahyoid muscle that is not innervated via the ansa cervicalis.1

Blood supply

The muscle is provided with arterial blood by branches of the superior thyroid artery, and of the lingual artery.1

Relations

The thyrohyoid muscle forms the inferior boundary of the carotid triangle.5 It is situated deep to (beneath) the (depending upon the source) superior portion of2/superior belly of3: 538  the sternohyoid muscle,23: 538  and the superior portion of2 the omohyoid muscle.23: 538 

Function

The thyrohyoid muscle depresses and fixates the hyoid bone. It elevates the larynx during swallowing.3: 538  By controlling the position and shape of the larynx, it aids in making sound.6

Additional images

  • Hyoid bone. Anterior surface. Enlarged.
    Hyoid bone. Anterior surface. Enlarged.
  • The veins of the thyroid gland.
    The veins of the thyroid gland.
  • Hypoglossal nerve, cervical plexus, and their branches.
    Hypoglossal nerve, cervical plexus, and their branches.
  • The right brachial plexus with its short branches, viewed from in front.
    The right brachial plexus with its short branches, viewed from in front.
  • Side view of the larynx, showing muscular attachments.
    Side view of the larynx, showing muscular attachments.
  • Thyrohyoid muscle
    Thyrohyoid muscle
See also

See also

Notes

Notes

  1. Described as either the origin or as the insertion.
  2. Described as either the origin or as the insertion.
References

References

This article incorporates text in the public domain from page 394 of the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)

  1. Standring, Susan (2020). Gray's Anatomy: The Anatomical Basis of Clinical Practice (42th ed.). New York. p. 582. ISBN 978-0-7020-7707-4. OCLC 1201341621.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  2. Sinnatamby, Chummy S. (2011). Last's Anatomy (12th ed.). Elsevier Australia. p. 337. ISBN 978-0-7295-3752-0.
  3. Waschke, Jens; Böckers, Tobias M.; Paulsen, Friedrich; Arnold, Wolfgang; Bechmann, Ingo, eds. (2018). Sobotta Anatomy Textbook: English Edition with Latin Nomenclature (1st ed.). München: Elsevier. ISBN 978-0-7020-6760-0.
  4. "ramus thyrohyoideus ansae cervicalis". TheFreeDictionary.com. Retrieved 2023-06-30.
  5. Luna, Mario A.; Pfaltz, Madeleine (2009). "11 - Cysts of the Neck, Unknown Primary Tumor, and Neck Dissection". Diagnostic Surgical Pathology of the Head and Neck (2nd ed.). Philadelphia: Saunders. pp. 839–881. doi:10.1016/B978-1-4160-2589-4.00011-5. ISBN 978-1-4377-1951-2. OCLC 460904310.
  6. Hage, Steffen R. (2010). "8.3 - Neuronal networks involved in the generation of vocalization". Handbook of Behavioral Neuroscience. Vol. 19. Stefan Brudzynski. London: Academic Press. pp. 339–349. doi:10.1016/B978-0-12-374593-4.00032-2. ISBN 978-0-12-374593-4. ISSN 1569-7339. OCLC 528610774.
External links