Omohyoid Muscle: An Anatomical Study

Abstract

Background: Variants of the omohyoid muscle are essential, because of their close relationship with the great vessels and brachial plexus. Due to direct attachment of the tendon to the wall of the internal jugular vein, muscle contraction has a direct influence on it. Aim and Objectives: The study was designed to understand the morphology and morphometry of the superior and inferior bellies the omohyoid along with its intermediate tendon. Material and Methods: The head and neck regions of 40 human cadavers (25 males and 15 females) were studied. The length and maximum width of the superior and inferior bellies of the omohyoid along with the intermediate tendon were measured. Also, an attempt was made to correlate the measurements of the muscle with the bony landmarks. Results: The superior belly of the omohyoid was absent in one of the specimens. In the remaining 39 specimens, there was no significant difference between the dimensions of superior and inferior bellies of the omohyoid in the right and left sides. But the length (p=0.02) and width (p=0.03) of the intermediate tendon showed a statistically significant difference between the right and left. Further the length of the neck when correlated with the dimensions of the omohyoid showed a positive linear relationship. Conclusion: This study provides a normal database for morphological and morphometric details of omohyoid muscle. It is significant from the surgical point of view as it is in close relation to the great vessels of the neck and certain group of lymph nodes.

Keywords

• Omohyoid
• Morphology
• Morphometry
• Hyoid Bone
• Neck