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The neck is a complex structure of bones, muscles, nerves, blood vessels, and connective tissues. There are about 30 muscles in the neck, which support and stabilise the head, neck, and upper back. These muscles also help us chew, swallow, breathe, and make facial expressions. The muscles of the neck are divided into three main groups based on their position: anterior, lateral, and posterior. The neck muscles are further divided into more specific groups based on depth, location, and function. For example, the muscles in the posterior neck help with extending the neck, while the lateral neck muscles help with head movements and twisting and tilting the cervical spine.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of neck muscles | 30 |
| Muscle groups | Anterior, lateral, and posterior |
| Muscle subgroups | Superficial, suprahyoid, and infrahyoid |
| Muscle functions | Movement of the head in all directions, chewing, swallowing, breathing, and making facial expressions |
| Muscle attachments | Bones, tendons |
| Muscle types | Skeletal, voluntary |
| Muscle injuries | Strains, serious injuries |
| Muscle innervation | Cervical nerves, cranial nerves, spinal accessory nerve |
| Muscle blood supply | External and internal jugular veins, vertebral veins, subclavian vein |
| Muscle lymphatics | Right lymphatic duct, thoracic duct |
| Muscle stabilisation | Support and stabilisation of the head, neck, and upper spine |
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What You'll Learn
- The neck has about 30 muscles, divided into anterior, lateral and posterior groups
- The platysma is a sheet-like muscle in the anterior neck, involved in facial expressions
- The sternocleidomastoid is a large, two-headed muscle, involved in tilting and rotating the head
- The suprahyoid muscles are found superior to the hyoid bone and help with swallowing and speaking
- The infrahyoid muscles are found inferior to the hyoid bone and move the larynx up and down
The neck has about 30 muscles, divided into anterior, lateral and posterior groups
The neck has about 30 muscles that support and stabilise the head, neck, and upper back. They also help with chewing, swallowing, breathing, and making facial expressions. These muscles can be divided into three main groups based on their position in the neck: the anterior, lateral, and posterior groups.
The anterior neck muscles are a group of muscles covering the front aspect of the neck. They are further divided into four subgroups: superficial muscles, suprahyoid muscles, infrahyoid muscles, and scalene muscles. The superficial muscles include the platysma and sternocleidomastoid. The platysma is a sheet-like muscle that lies within the subcutaneous tissue of the anterior neck and is involved in facial expressions. The sternocleidomastoid is a large, two-headed muscle that enables head and neck movements, such as lateral flexion and rotation. The suprahyoid muscles are found superior to the hyoid bone and include the digastric, mylohyoid, geniohyoid, and stylohyoid. These muscles form the floor of the oral cavity and are involved in swallowing and speaking. The infrahyoid muscles are located inferior to the hyoid bone and consist of the sternohyoid, omohyoid, sternothyroid, and thyrohyoid. They move the larynx (voice box) up and down. The scalene muscles facilitate breathing by moving the first two ribs up and down, and they also help stabilise the cervical spine.
The lateral neck muscles control head movements from the base of the skull, enabling the head to twist and tilt. They include the rectus capitis lateralis muscle.
The posterior neck muscles are responsible for extending the neck and connecting the skull to the spinal column and pectoral girdle. They can be divided into three layers: the superficial layer, the deep layer, and the deepest layer. The superficial layer includes the trapezius, splenius capitis, and splenius cervicis muscles. The deep layer consists of cervical transversospinalis muscles, such as the semispinalis capitis, semispinalis cervicis, and multifidus cervicis. The deepest layer comprises the suboccipital muscles, interspinales cervicis, and intertransversarii colli muscles.
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The platysma is a sheet-like muscle in the anterior neck, involved in facial expressions
The platysma is a thin, sheet-like muscle in the anterior neck, involved in facial expressions. It is a superficial muscle, covering the anterior surface of the neck. The platysma is involved in a range of facial expressions, such as sadness, surprise, and horror, by lowering the corners of the mouth and lower lip. It is also involved in depressing the mandible, assisting in opening the mouth.
The platysma has a broad origin, with fibres arising from the fascia of the upper thorax, including the clavicle, acromial region, pectoralis major, and deltoid muscles. Its fibres run superiorly and medially from the deltoid and pectoral region in a rostral-caudal direction. The platysma inserts into several points, including the mandible, the skin of the lower face, the lower lip, and the corners of the mouth. It is innervated by the facial nerve and vascularised by the submental branch of the facial artery and the suprascapular branch of the thyrocervical trunk.
The platysma is an important muscle for facial expression and has a close association with the underlying neurovascular structures. During surgical procedures on the neck, such as thyroid and parathyroid surgery, the platysma muscle needs to be cut through to access deeper structures. Great care must be taken to protect the critical nerves and blood vessels in this area, such as the marginal mandibular branch of the facial nerve, to prevent paralysis or other motor and sensory deficits.
The appearance of the platysma muscle can change with age, with the development of platysmal bands. This can be due to skin laxity, loss of platysmal tone, or detachment of the platysma from deeper attachments. Conservative management, botulinum toxin injection, and platysmaplasty are possible interventions for managing the appearance of the platysma with age.
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The sternocleidomastoid is a large, two-headed muscle, involved in tilting and rotating the head
The neck is a complex musculoskeletal system, connecting the base of the skull to the torso. It contains about 30 muscles, which support and stabilise the head, neck, and upper spine. These muscles are responsible for movements of the head in all directions, as well as assisting with chewing, swallowing, and breathing.
The sternocleidomastoid muscle is involved in several functions. Firstly, it aids in unilateral contraction, producing lateral flexion of the neck on the same side and lateral rotation of the head to the opposite side. This means that when you turn your head to face left or right, the sternocleidomastoid muscle is active.
Additionally, the muscle contributes to bilateral contraction, which results in flexion of the neck, drawing the head towards the chest. This occurs when both sides of the muscle act together, flexing the neck and extending the head. Furthermore, when the head and neck are fixed, the sternocleidomastoid can elevate the sternum and clavicle, expanding the thoracic cavity during forced inspiration.
Injuries, tension, and tightness in the sternocleidomastoid muscle can lead to pain, stiffness, and conditions such as torticollis (wryneck) or temporomandibular joint disorders (TMD). Treatment options include hot and cold therapy, stretches, massage, osteopathic manipulation, physical therapy, and in severe cases, surgery. Maintaining good posture, managing stress, and regular exercise are also recommended for caring for this muscle.
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The suprahyoid muscles are found superior to the hyoid bone and help with swallowing and speaking
The neck is made up of about 30 muscles that support and stabilise the head, neck and the upper part of the spine. These muscles help with head movement, chewing, swallowing and breathing. The muscles in the neck are divided into three main groups based on their position: anterior, lateral and posterior.
The digastric muscle is comprised of two muscular bellies, which are connected by a tendon. The anterior belly arises from the digastric fossa of the mandible, while the posterior belly arises from the mastoid process of the temporal bone. The two bellies are connected by an intermediate tendon, which is attached to the hyoid bone via a fibrous sling. The digastric muscle aids in chin depression and retraction, assisting with mouth opening. It also elevates the hyoid bone and the floor of the oral cavity, contributing to swallowing.
The mylohyoid muscle has a square morphology and forms the muscular floor of the mouth. This muscle lies superficially to the digastric muscles and contributes to the Pirogov triangle. The mylohyoid muscle elevates the floor of the mouth and tongue, playing a role in deglutition and speech.
The geniohyoid muscle is located either side of the midline of the neck, deep to the mylohyoid muscle. It arises from the inferior mental spine of the mandible and travels inferiorly and posteriorly to attach to the hyoid bone. The geniohyoid moves the hyoid bone upward and forward, widening the airway passage and the pharynx during swallowing.
The stylohyoids are long, thin muscles that are nearly parallel with the posterior belly of the digastric muscle. They initiate a swallowing action by pulling the hyoid bone in a posterior and superior direction.
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The infrahyoid muscles are found inferior to the hyoid bone and move the larynx up and down
The neck is a complex musculoskeletal system that connects the base of the skull to the torso. It contains about 30 muscles that allow for a variety of movements, including the movement of the head in all directions, chewing, swallowing, and breathing. These muscles are divided into three main groups based on their position in the neck: anterior, lateral, and posterior.
The infrahyoid muscles are a group of four pairs of muscles found in the anterior (frontal) part of the neck, inferior to the hyoid bone. The hyoid bone is a bone at the top of the neck, just below the jawline. The four infrahyoid muscles are the sternohyoid, sternothyroid, thyrohyoid, and omohyoid. These muscles move the larynx (voice box) up and down.
The infrahyoid muscles are also known as "strap muscles" due to their long and flat shapes, resembling straps. Excluding the sternothyroid, these muscles either originate from or insert onto the hyoid bone. The thyrohyoid muscle is innervated by fibers from the first cervical spinal nerve, while the other infrahyoid muscles are innervated by the ansa cervicalis from the cervical plexus (C1-C3).
The hyoid bone is stabilized by the infrahyoid muscles, and it moves when the suprahyoid muscles contract. The suprahyoid muscles are found superior to the hyoid bone and include the digastric, mylohyoid, geniohyoid, and stylohyoid. These muscles facilitate chewing, swallowing, and phonation, and they play a crucial role in airway management.
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Frequently asked questions
The neck muscles are divided into three main groups based on their position in the neck: the anterior, lateral, and posterior groups.
The neck muscles support and stabilise the head, neck, and upper part of the spine. They also help with chewing, swallowing, breathing, and moving the head in different directions.
Some examples of neck muscles include the platysma, sternocleidomastoid, digastric, mylohyoid, geniohyoid, stylohyoid, sternohyoid, omohyoid, sternothyroid, thyrohyoid, and scalene muscles.
