Name

# Sternothyroid

Pronunciation

(ster–no-THI-roid)

Origin/Proximal Attachment

Manubrium of the sternum, costal cartilage of 1st rib

Insertion/Distal Attachment

Oblique line of thyroid cartilage

Action/Relevance

Depresses the thyroid cartilage

Innervation

Ansa Cervicalis - C1, 2,3

Notes

On each side of the neck, sternothyroid is one of the muscles of the anterior triangle. It originates from posterior aspect of the manubrium sterni and the posteromedial part of the first costal cartilage.

It passes deep to sternohyoid and runs superomedially. It inserts into the oblique line on the lamina of the thyroid cartilage. It is innervated by branches of the ansa cervicalis (C1-3).

Sternothyroid acts to displace the thyroid cartilage inferiorly. This has the effect of depressing indirectly the hyoid bone. Overall, this has the effect of opening and depressing the larynx.