Click on the structure to specify the target of your label
![]() |
01 | ![]() |
Omohyoid
Other Terms:
Musculus omohyoideus,
Muscle omo-hyoïdien
Muscle parts
Superior belly; Inferior belly
Latin name
Musculus omohyoideus
Latin muscle parts
Venter superior; Venter inferior
Group
Cervical wall – ventral muscle (Infrahyoid muscle)
Etymology
The English name for this muscle is the muscle of the shoulder and the hyoid bone. The term omo comes from the Greek word omos meaning “shoulder” and the term hyoid comes from its resemblance to the Greek letter upsilon (u), which is aspirated as hy. This is combined with the suffix eidos meaning “shape or form.”
Origin
Inferior belly arises from the superior border of the scapula at the scapular notch and the superior transverse scapular ligament
Insertion
Passes via an intermediate tendon to the superior belly, which inserts on the inferior border of the hyoid body laterally
Action
Depresses an elevated hyoid bone and assists in raising the cervical fascia during inspiration.
Nerve supply
Ventral ramus via ansa cervicalis (C1) (superior belly); ventral ramus via the ansa cervicalis (C2 and C3) (inferior belly)
Blood supply
Infrahyoid artery from the superior thyroid artery, suprahyoid branch of the lingual artery. Superficial cervical artery from the thyrocervical trunk of the subclavian artery. Inferior thyroid artery from the thyrocervical trunk of the subclavian artery
Latin
Musculus omohyoideus
French
Muscle omo-hyoïdien