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The neck contains about 30 muscles, which can be divided into three main categories: anterior (front), lateral (side) and posterior (back). These muscles support and stabilise the head, neck and upper spine, as well as facilitating a wide range of movements, including head rotation, chewing, swallowing and breathing. The neck muscles are part of a complex musculoskeletal system that connects the base of the skull to the torso.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of neck muscles | 30 |
| Categories of neck muscles | Anterior (front), lateral (side) and posterior (back) |
| Types of anterior neck muscles | Superficial, suprahyoid, infrahyoid and scalene muscles |
| Types of posterior neck muscles | Trapezius, levator scapulae |
| Types of lateral neck muscles | Sternocleidomastoid, scalene |
| Functions | Support and stabilise the head, neck and upper spine; enable head movement; assist with chewing, swallowing and breathing |
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What You'll Learn
- The neck contains about 30 muscles, which support head position, posture and breathing
- There are three main categories of neck muscles: anterior (front), lateral (side) and posterior (back)
- The trapezius is a large, flat, triangular muscle that extends over the back of the neck and upper back
- The sternocleidomastoid is a large two-headed muscle on each side of the neck
- The scalene muscles are three paired muscles on the anterior, middle, and posterior of the lateral neck
The neck contains about 30 muscles, which support head position, posture and breathing
The anterior neck muscles are arranged in four distinct regions, including superficial, suprahyoid, infrahyoid and scalene muscles. The superficial muscles are some of the largest muscles in the neck. The suprahyoid muscles move the hyoid bone (a bone at the top of the neck, just below the jawline) when you swallow and speak. The infrahyoid muscles are four muscles below the hyoid bone that move the larynx (voice box) up and down. The scalene muscles move the first two ribs up and down so you can inhale air when you breathe. They also help move your head and stabilise the bones in your neck (cervical spine).
The lateral neck muscles control head movements from the base of the skull. They also help you twist your head from side to side and twist and tilt your cervical spine. The posterior neck muscles include the trapezius, a large, flat, triangular muscle that extends over the back of the neck and upper back. The main movements of the traps are lateral flexion, contralateral rotation of the head and extension of the head.
The neck muscles are part of a complex musculoskeletal system that connects the base of the skull to the torso. They attach to the skull, hyoid bone, clavicles and the sternum. They also bound the two major neck triangles; anterior and posterior.
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There are three main categories of neck muscles: anterior (front), lateral (side) and posterior (back)
There are about 30 neck muscles, which can be categorised into three main groups: anterior (front), lateral (side) and posterior (back). These muscles support and stabilise the head, neck and upper spine, as well as helping with chewing, swallowing and breathing.
The anterior neck muscles are arranged in four distinct regions: superficial, suprahyoid, infrahyoid and scalene muscles. The superficial muscles are some of the largest muscles in the neck. The suprahyoid muscles move the hyoid bone (a bone at the top of the neck, just below the jawline) when you swallow and speak. The infrahyoid muscles are four muscles below the hyoid bone that move the larynx (voice box) up and down.
The lateral neck muscles, also called the lateral vertebral muscles, pass obliquely along the lateral sides of the neck. They include the anterior, middle and posterior scalene muscles, which extend between the transverse processes of the cervical vertebrae and the upper two ribs. The anterior scalene muscle is the most anterior of the scalene muscles.
The posterior neck muscles are located on the posterior aspect of the neck and connect the skull to the vertebral column and pectoral girdle. They can be subdivided into three groups: superficial, deep and deepest. The superficial layer is composed of the trapezius and the two splenius muscles (capitis and cervicis). The trapezius is a large, flat, triangular muscle that extends over the back of the neck and upper back. It produces lateral flexion and contralateral rotation of the head if contracting unilaterally, or extension of the head if contracting bilaterally.
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The trapezius is a large, flat, triangular muscle that extends over the back of the neck and upper back
The neck contains about 30 muscles, which can be divided into three main categories: anterior (front), lateral (side) and posterior (back). These muscles support and stabilise the head, neck and upper spine, as well as helping with chewing, swallowing and breathing.
The levator scapulae is another muscle found in the neck. It is a long, slender, superficial muscle found on each lateral side of the neck. The sternocleidomastoid is a large, two-headed muscle on each side of the neck. One head originates from the medial third of the clavicle, while the other originates from the manubrium of the sternum and inserts onto the mastoid process of the temporal bone. The scalene muscles are three paired muscles found on the anterior, middle and posterior of the lateral neck.
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The sternocleidomastoid is a large two-headed muscle on each side of the neck
The neck contains about 30 muscles, which can be divided into three main categories: anterior (front), lateral (side) and posterior (back). These muscles support and stabilise the head, neck and upper spine, and help with head movement, chewing, swallowing and breathing.
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The scalene muscles are three paired muscles on the anterior, middle, and posterior of the lateral neck
The neck contains about 30 muscles, which can be divided into three main categories: anterior (front), lateral (side) and posterior (back). The scalene muscles are three paired muscles on the anterior, middle, and posterior of the lateral neck. They are also referred to as the scalenus anterior, scalenus medius and scalenus posterior.
The scalene muscles are accessory muscles of respiration, which elevate the ribs during forced inspiration. They also perform flexion at the neck, lateral flexion and rotation of the neck. The anterior and middle scalene muscles lift the first rib and bend the neck to the side they are on, while the posterior scalene lifts the second rib and tilts the neck to the same side.
The scalene muscles are attached at one end to bony protrusions on vertebrae C2 to C7 and at the other end to the first and second ribs. The brachial plexus and subclavian artery pass between the anterior and middle scalenes, while the subclavian vein and phrenic nerve pass anteriorly to the anterior scalene as the muscle crosses over the first rib.
The neck contains other large muscles, such as the sternocleidomastoid, a large two-headed muscle on each side of the neck, and the trapezius, a large, flat, triangular muscle that extends over the back of the neck and upper back.
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Frequently asked questions
There are about 30 neck muscles, which can be divided into three main categories: anterior (front), lateral (side) and posterior (back).
The superficial muscles are some of the largest muscles in the neck. The trapezius is a large, flat, triangular muscle that extends over the back of the neck and upper back. The sternocleidomastoid is a large two-headed muscle on each side of the neck.
The neck muscles support and stabilise the head, neck and the upper part of the spine. They help move the head in different directions and assist with chewing, swallowing and breathing.
