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

Which of the following is not considered an infrahyoid muscle?

1. omohyoid

2. thyrohyoid

3. sternothyroid

4. stylohyoid

The correct answer is: stylohyoid

The option identified as the correct answer refers to the stylohyoid muscle, which is correctly classified as not being an infrahyoid muscle. Infrahyoid muscles, as a group, are located below the hyoid bone and play essential roles in movements related to swallowing and stabilizing the hyoid bone during speech and other activities. The stylohyoid muscle, in contrast, is classified as a suprahyoid muscle because it is located above the hyoid bone. It originates from the styloid process of the temporal bone and inserts into the body of the hyoid bone, acting to elevate the hyoid bone during swallowing. The infrahyoid muscles, which include the omohyoid, thyrohyoid, and sternothyroid, function primarily to depress the hyoid and stabilize it in relation to the cervical vertebrae. Understanding the classification of these muscles is important for both anatomical knowledge and clinical application in fields such as massage therapy and physical rehabilitation, where knowledge of muscle function and location can aid in treatment planning.