College of Massage Therapists of British Columbia (CMTBC) Practice Exam

Which hyoid muscle attaches to the scapula?

1. omohyoid

2. sternohyoid

3. sternothyroid

4. thyrohyoid

The correct answer is: omohyoid

The omohyoid muscle is the hyoid muscle that attaches to the scapula. This muscle has two bellies—upper and lower—connected by an intermediate tendon. The lower belly of the omohyoid originates from the upper border of the scapula, specifically from the suprascapular notch, while its upper belly inserts into the body of the hyoid bone. Understanding the function and location of the omohyoid is important for comprehension of the anatomy of the neck and its relationship to the shoulder region. Other muscles mentioned do not have attachments to the scapula. For example, the sternohyoid, sternothyroid, and thyrohyoid all connect primarily to structures in the neck and do not have any direct connection to the scapula, which is key in distinguishing the omohyoid as the correct answer.