The Sternohyoid is a muscle in the neck that plays a crucial role in depressing the hyoid bone, thereby assisting in swallowing and speech. It runs longitudinally from the sternum and clavicle to the hyoid bone, forming part of the infrahyoid muscle group. This muscle helps coordinate the delicate balance required during voice modulation and food passage through the throat.
The name "Sternohyoid" is derived from its attachment points: "sterno" referring to the sternum and "hyoideus" to the hyoid bone, illustrating the muscle’s path from these structures.
If the Sternohyoid were absent or damaged, the ability to swallow efficiently would be impaired, potentially affecting speech clarity and making it difficult to stabilize the hyoid bone during oral activities.
