Quick Facts
Origin: Intermediate tendon of omohyoid muscle.
Insertion: Body of hyoid bone.
Action: Depresses hyoid bone.
Innervation: Ansa cervicalis (C1), from anterior rami of cervical plexus.
Arterial Supply: Infrahyoid branch of superior thyroid artery.
Related parts of the anatomy
Origin
The omohyoid muscle has two bellies, the superior and inferior bellies. The two bellies are connected by an intermediate tendon, which is tethered by a fascial sling to the clavicle and first rib. The superior belly of the omohyoid muscle arises from the intermediate tendon.
Insertion
The superior belly of the omohyoid muscle inserts into the inferior aspect of the body of the hyoid bone, lateral to the attachment of the sternohyoid muscle.
Actions
Overall, the omohyoid muscle depresses the hyoid bone after it has been elevated (Standring, 2016). It also fixes the hyoid bone in place with it opposes the actions of muscles that elevate the bone.
References
Standring, S. (2016) Gray's Anatomy: The Anatomical Basis of Clinical Practice. Gray's Anatomy Series 41st edn.: Elsevier Limited.
Learn more about this topic from other Elsevier products
Omohyoid Muscle
The omohyoid muscle is identified between the superficial and deep cervical fascia along its course toward the suprascapular notch, and it can be tagged and retracted.
