Dominic Stone
The neck is a complex structure of bones, muscles, nerves, blood vessels, and connective tissues. Neck muscles support the head and help with various movements, including chewing, swallowing, and breathing. There are about 30 neck muscles, which can be categorised by their position in the neck: anterior (front), lateral (side), and posterior (back). The cervical spine is the bony part of the neck and is the most flexible part of the spine, allowing for large movements. The trapezius muscle, which has three parts, helps to extend the head upward and neck backward, and the levator scapulae muscle helps with lifting the shoulder blade and bending the neck to the side. The deep neck extensors (DCE) provide stability and control for the neck and are the deepest layer of intrinsic back muscles.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of neck muscles | 30 |
| Muscle categories | Anterior (front), lateral (side) and posterior (back) |
| Anterior muscles | Superficial, suprahyoid, infrahyoid and scalene muscles |
| Superficial muscles | Platysma, sternocleidomastoid |
| Suprahyoid muscles | Digastric, mylohyoid, geniohyoid, stylohyoid |
| Infrahyoid muscles | Sternohyoid, sternothyroid, thyrohyoid, omohyoid |
| Scalene muscles | 3 pairs of lateral neck muscles |
| Lateral neck muscles | Control head movements from the base of the skull |
| Deep neck extensors (DCE) | Semispinalis cervicis, Multifidus |
| Muscles involved with neck pain | Sternocleidomastoid, trapezius, levator scapulae, scalenes, deep cervical flexors, erector spinae, and suboccipitals |
| Trapezius muscles | Two large muscles in the upper back |
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What You'll Learn
- The trapezius muscle has three parts: upper, middle, and lower
- The levator scapulae muscle helps with lifting the shoulder blade and rotating the head
- The deep cervical flexor muscles help stabilise the cervical spine
- The erector spinae muscles play a key role in supporting posture
- The suboccipital muscles are four pairs of small muscles that connect the top of the cervical spine with the base of the skull
The trapezius muscle has three parts: upper, middle, and lower
The neck is a complex structure of bones, muscles, nerves, blood vessels, and connective tissues. It is made up of about 30 muscles, which support the head and enable a variety of movements. Neck muscles also assist with chewing, swallowing, and breathing.
The trapezius muscle is a large muscle in the upper back. It is made up of two large muscles, which together form a trapezoid shape. The trapezius muscle has three parts: upper, middle, and lower. The upper trapezius arises from the occipital bone in the back of the skull and the nuchal line in the back of the neck. It also has attachments to the spinous processes of cervical levels one through six via the ligamentum nuchae. The upper trapezius helps rotate the shoulder blade upward when the arm is lifted to the side.
The middle trapezius helps bring the shoulder blades back toward the spine. It also helps stabilize the shoulder during certain arm movements. The middle fibres originate from the spinous processes of T1-T4 (some sources state C7-T3) vertebrae and their intervening supraspinous ligaments.
The lower trapezius muscle is tasked with the upper and mid-spine stabilizing action of bringing the shoulder girdle down. This is the opposite action to that of the upper trapezius. The lower fibres of the trapezius arise from the spinous processes of cervical seven through thoracic level 12.
The trapezius muscles are involved in movements of the shoulder girdle and are considered muscles of the upper limb rather than of the back. They help with posture and move the upper back, neck, and head. The trapezius muscles are also involved in the movement of the head and neck, and in controlling the scapula during movements of the shoulder and upper limb.
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The levator scapulae muscle helps with lifting the shoulder blade and rotating the head
The neck is a complex structure of bones, muscles, nerves, blood vessels, lymphatics, and other connective tissues. It is the most flexible part of the spine, allowing for large movements to scan our surroundings. The neck muscles support and stabilise the head, neck, and the upper part of the spine, enabling us to move our head in different directions.
One of these neck muscles is the levator scapulae, a slender skeletal muscle situated at the back and side of the neck. It originates from the transverse processes of the four uppermost cervical vertebrae and inserts onto the upper portion of the medial border of the scapula. As its name suggests, the primary function of the levator scapulae muscle is to elevate the scapula or shoulder blade. It also aids in retracting the shoulder girdle at the scapulothoracic joint and helps prevent the depression of the girdle when carrying heavy loads.
The levator scapulae muscle works in conjunction with other muscles such as the trapezius, latissimus dorsi, rhomboids, pectoralis major, and pectoralis minor. Together, these muscles help to stabilise the spine, extend and laterally flex the neck, and rotate the glenoid cavity. When the scapula is fixed, contraction of the levator scapulae leads to the lateral flexion of the cervical vertebral column and stabilises the vertebral column during rotation.
The levator scapulae muscle is prone to stiffening and chronic pain due to poor posture, such as carrying heavy shoulder bags, permanent lifting of the shoulders while sitting at a desk, or sleeping on one side without proper head support.
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The deep cervical flexor muscles help stabilise the cervical spine
The neck is a complex structure of bones, muscles, nerves, blood vessels, lymphatics, and other connective tissues. The cervical spine, or the bony part of the neck, supports the skull while allowing for movement. It is the most flexible part of the spine, allowing for large movements to scan our surroundings. The neck also acts as a conduit for the brain to communicate with the rest of the body.
The cervical spine has several functions, including protecting the spinal cord and vertebral arteries. The muscles of the neck protect other neurovascular structures necessary for sustaining life. Any interruption of proper neck function can lead to a critical state.
The deep cervical flexor muscles, or prevertebral cervical muscles, are the equivalent of the core for the neck. Despite their small size, they are the most important antagonists of the large cervical spine extensors. They play a crucial role in stabilising the cervical column and the skull.
The deep cervical flexors run down the front of the cervical spine, allowing for forward neck flexion and helping to stabilise the cervical spine. These muscles include the longus colli and longus capitus, which form a sleeve around the vertebral column. They control segmental control and neutral positioning of the cervical spine joints.
The deep cervical flexors work in conjunction with the deep cervical extensors (DCE) to provide stability and control for the neck. The DCE muscles include the semispinalis cervicis and multifidus, which collectively form the transversospinalis group. These muscles act as cervical extenders and segmental stabilisers, respectively. They work together with the deep cervical flexors to maintain the natural lordosis of the cervical spine and prevent a forward head position.
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The erector spinae muscles play a key role in supporting posture
The neck is a complex structure of bones, muscles, nerves, blood vessels, and connective tissues. Neck muscles support the head and enable a variety of movements, including chewing, swallowing, and breathing. They also assist in maintaining posture and stabilizing the head and neck.
The erector spinae muscles, also known as spinal erectors, play a crucial role in supporting posture and maintaining the spine's natural curvature. They are a group of muscles that extend and rotate the spine, keeping it upright and stable. These muscles help to avoid hunching or slouching, which can strain the back and lead to pain and injury.
The erector spinae is divided into three sections: the spinalis, longissimus, and iliocostalis muscles. The spinalis muscles are the most medial, innervated by the lateral branches of the posterior rami of cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spinal nerves. They extend and laterally flex the cervical and thoracic regions of the spine. The longissimus muscles are the central and most substantial erector spinae muscles, divided into three regional groups. They also help with head rotation. The iliocostalis muscles are the most lateral, divided into three groups, and they function to extend and laterally flex the spine.
Weak or imbalanced erector spinae muscles can contribute to postural deviations, such as kyphosis, lordosis, and scoliosis. Strengthening these muscles through appropriate exercises can improve postural alignment and reduce the risk of injuries associated with improper posture. Maintaining good posture awareness is essential for a healthy spine and overall physical well-being.
In summary, the erector spinae muscles are vital for supporting posture by providing stability, enabling movements, and maintaining the spine's natural curvature. Neglecting these muscles or performing improper movements can lead to injuries, pain, and postural deviations. Therefore, it is important to focus on proper form and techniques during exercises targeting the erector spinae muscles to maintain a healthy spine and promote good posture.
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The suboccipital muscles are four pairs of small muscles that connect the top of the cervical spine with the base of the skull
The neck is a complex structure of bones, muscles, nerves, blood vessels, lymphatics, and other connective tissues. The neck muscles support and stabilise the head and neck, and the upper part of the spine. They also help with chewing, swallowing, and breathing. There are about 30 neck muscles, which can be categorised into three groups: anterior (front), lateral (side), and posterior (back).
The suboccipital muscles are of particular importance to surgeons operating within the posterior cervical spine or cranial fossa region. They form a distinct suboccipital triangle, which allows surgeons to recognise the vertebral artery and its position within the posterior cervical region. The vertebral artery takes a tortuous course behind the suboccipital muscles, supplying branches to these muscles. The close relationship between the suboccipital muscles and the vertebral artery may be relevant in patients with significant atherosclerosis. Contraction of the suboccipital muscles may lead to minor artery compression, reducing blood flow and causing symptoms such as light-headedness and dizziness.
The suboccipital muscles can be strained by constant movement or injury, leading to headaches or neck pain. Physical therapy and pain control can help relieve these symptoms. Additionally, variants of the suboccipital muscles have been found in some patients, providing insights into the development of cervicogenic headaches.
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Frequently asked questions
The trapezius muscle helps to extend the head upward and neck backward.
The trapezius muscles are two large muscles found on either side of the upper back. They help maintain posture and move the upper back, neck and head.
There are around 30 neck muscles, which can be categorised as anterior (front), lateral (side) and posterior (back). The lateral neck muscles control head movements from the base of the skull.
The neck muscles support the head and help with a variety of movements, including chewing, swallowing and breathing.
