Bishop 1

ANTERIOR ASPECT OF THE MUSCLES OF THE NECK
INTRODUCTION
The muscles of the anterior aspect of the neck form a complex network that plays a vital role
in various functions including head movement, swallowing, speech, and maintaining posture.
These muscles are organized into superficial and deep layers, each with distinct roles and
functions.
MUSCLE NAMING, CLASSIFICATION AND TYPES OF CONTRACTION
1. Naming
The muscles of the anterior aspect of the neck are typically named based on their
location, attachment points, and function number of heads (origins), Examples
include:
 The superficial muscles are the most superficial in the anterior neck, and include
the platysma and sternocleidomastoid.
 The suprahyoid muscles, as the name suggests, are found superior to the hyoid
bone, and include the digastric, mylohyoid, geniohyoid and stylohyoid.
 The infrahyoid muscles are found inferior to the hyoid bone and consist of the
sternohyoid, omohyoid, sternothyroid and thyrohyoid.
2. CLASSIFICATION
The superficial muscles of the neck can be classified based on their location and function.
Here's a general classification:
 Platysma: Named after the Greek word "platys," meaning flat,

This thin, sheet-like muscle covers the front of the neck. It helps with facial
expressions like grimacing and smiling.
 Sternocleidomastoid (SCM): This large muscle on each side of the neck helps with
various movements of the head and neck, including rotation and flexion.
Suprahyoid Muscles: The suprahyoid muscles of the anterior neck are typically classified
based on their specific locations and functions. They are a group of muscles located above the
hyoid bone and play important roles in various functions such as swallowing, speaking, and
stabilizing the hyoid bone. Here's a breakdown of the suprahyoid muscles:
 Digastric Muscle: This muscle has two bellies, anterior and posterior, connected by
an intermediate tendon. It aids in opening the mouth, depressing the mandible, and
elevating the hyoid bone during swallowing.
 Mylohyoid Muscle: This is a sheet-like muscle that forms the majority of the floor of
the mouth, and inserts into the mylohyoid raphe. It assists in elevating the hyoid bone
and tongue during swallowing and helps in speech and respiration.
 Geniohyoid Muscle: Located deep to the mylohyoid muscle, the geniohyoid muscle
assists in depressing the mandible and elevating the hyoid bone during swallowing. It
also helps stabilize the hyoid bone.
 Stylohyoid Muscle: This slender muscle runs from the styloid process of the temporal
bone to the hyoid bone. It assists in elevating and retracting the hyoid bone during
swallowing and speaking.
The infrahyoid strap muscles: are a group of muscles located below the hyoid bone in the
anterior neck. These muscles are typically classified based on their specific locations and
functions. Here's a breakdown of the infrahyoid muscles:
 Sternohyoid Muscle: This muscle is located deep to the platysma and

sternocleidomastoid muscles. This muscle assists in depressing the hyoid bone during
 Omohyoid Muscle: The omohyoid muscle has two bellies: superior and inferior. This
muscle assists in depressing and stabilizing the hyoid bone and larynx during
 Thyrohyoid Muscle: This muscle originates from the thyroid cartilage of the larynx
and inserts onto the hyoid bone. The thyrohyoid muscle assists in depressing the
hyoid bone during swallowing and speaking and helps to stabilize the larynx.
 Sternothyroid Muscle: This muscle originates from the sternum and inserts onto the
thyroid cartilage of the larynx. The sternothyroid muscle assists in depressing the
larynx during swallowing and speaking.
TYPES OF CONTRACTIONS
Muscles can contract in three ways:
 Concentric contraction: Muscle shortens to produce movement (for example lifting

an arm)
 Eccentric contraction: Muscle lengthens while under tension (for example lowering
the arm)
 Isometric contraction: Muscle maintains tension without movement (for example
holding a block)
MUSCLES OF THE ANTEROIR ASPECT OF THE NECK
1. SUPERFICIAL MUSCLES
 PLATYSMA MUSCLES
 ORIGIN: originates from the fascia that covers the clavicle, the acromial
region and the superior portions of the pectoralis major and deltoid muscles
 INSERTION: Lower border of mandible, skin of buccal or cheek region,
lower lip, modiolus, orbicularis oris muscle.
 Innervation: Cervical branch of facial nerve (CN VII).
 Actions: Depresses mandible and angle of mouth, tenses skin of lower face
and anterior neck.
 Sternocleidomastoid (SCM)
 ORIGIN:
Sternal head: superior part of anterior surface of manubrium sterni
Clavicular head: superior surface of medial third of the clavicle
 Insertions: Lateral surface of mastoid process of the temporal bone, Lateral
half of superior nuchal line of the occipital bone
 Innervation: Accessory nerve (CN XI), branches of cervical plexus (C2-C3)
Figure 1: showing the platysma and Sternocleidomastoid (SCM
 )
2. SUPRAHYOID MUSCLES
 Digastric Muscles:
 Origin
Anterior belly: digastric fossa of mandible
Posterior belly: mastoid notch of temporal bone
 Insertion: Body of hyoid bone (via intermediate tendon and its fibrous sling)
 Action: Depresses mandible and Elevates hyoid bone during chewing,
swallowing.
 Innervation
Anterior belly: mylohyoid nerve (of inferior alveolar nerve) (CN V3)
Posterior belly: digastric branch of facial nerve (CN VII).
 MYIOHROID MUSCLES
 Origin: Mylohyoid line of mandible
 Insertion: Mylohyoid raphe, body of hyoid bone
 Innervation: Nerve to mylohyoid (of inferior alveolar nerve (CN V3))
 STYLOID MUSCLE
 Origins: Styloid process of temporal bone
 Insertions: Body of hyoid bone
 Action: Elevates and draws hyoid bone posteriorly
 Innervation: Stylohyoid branch of facial nerve (CN)
Figure 2: showing the suprahyoid muscles
3. INFRAHYIOD MUSCLES
 STERNOHYIOD MUSCLES
 Origin: Manubrium of sternum, medial end of clavicle
 Insertion: Inferior border of body of hyoid bone
 Action: Depresses hyoid bone (from elevated position)
 Innervation: Anterior rami of spinal nerves C1-C3 (via ansa cervicalis)
 Omohyiod Muscles
 Origin
Inferior belly: superior border of scapula near the suprascapular notch
Superior belly: intermediate tendon
 Insertion:
Inferior belly: intermediate tendon
 Superior belly: body of hyoid bone
 Innervation: Anterior rami of spinal nerves C1-C3 (via ansa cervicalis)
 Sternothyroid Muscle
 Origin: Posterior surface of manubrium of sternum, Costal cartilage of rib 1
 Insertion: Oblique line of thyroid cartilage
 Action: Depress the larynx
 Innervation: Anterior rami of C1-3 (via the ansa cervicalis)
Figure 3: showing the Infrahyoid Muscles
3/4
Clincal/Applied Anatomy
 THYROID DISORDER :Including hypothyroidism ,hyperthyroidism ,goiter ,and

thyroid cancer
 TRACHEAL STENOSIS : Narrowing of the trachea , often due to injury or
inflammation
 CAROTID ARTERY DISEASE: Such as atherosclerosis , which can lead to strock
or other vascular issues.

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ANTERIOR ASPECT OF THE MUSCLES OF THE NECK

MUSCLE NAMING, CLASSIFICATION AND TYPES OF CONTRACTION

 Platysma: Named after the Greek word "platys," meaning flat,

 Sternohyoid Muscle: This muscle is located deep to the platysma and

 Concentric contraction: Muscle shortens to produce movement (for example lifting

MUSCLES OF THE ANTEROIR ASPECT OF THE NECK

Figure 1: showing the platysma and Sternocleidomastoid (SCM

Figure 2: showing the suprahyoid muscles

Figure 3: showing the Infrahyoid Muscles

 THYROID DISORDER :Including hypothyroidism ,hyperthyroidism ,goiter ,and

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