VARIANT OMOHYOID MUSCLE: REPORT OF TWO CASES

Omohyoid muscle consists of superior and inferior bellies connected by an intermediate tendon. Various anomalies of superior belly of omohyoid are described in literature. However, absence of superior belly of omohyoid is rarely reported. During regular head and neck dissection conducted for dental students at M S Ramaiah Medical College, variant omohyoid muscle were found in two male cadavers of south Indian origin. The variation noticed was unilateral in both the cases with normal inferior belly of omohyoid. In these cases the absent superior belly of omohyoid, is replaced by a fibrous tendon. Surgeons should be aware of this variation as it forms an important landmark for head and neck surgeries. It is also used as myocutaneous flaps for various reconstruction procedures.