Dominic Stone
The neck is a common site for muscle pain and tension. Spending long periods hunched over a desk can irritate the muscles that connect the head to the neck. The sternocleidomastoid (SCM) muscle is the largest neck muscle at the front of your neck, and it allows you to bend your neck and turn or tilt your head. It travels up both sides of your neck and ends at the mastoid process, which is located at the base of your skull behind your ears.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Muscle that nods the head | Sternocleidomastoid (SCM) |
| Location | Largest neck muscle in the front of the neck |
| Appearance | Narrow and thicker in the middle |
| Function | Allows you to bend, turn or tilt your head |
| Inner part | Bounds part of the anterior triangle |
| Outer part | Bounds part of the posterior triangle |
| Ends | Mastoid process (a section of bone located at the base of the skull behind the ears) |
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What You'll Learn
The sternocleidomastoid (SCM) muscle
Injuries and tension within the SCM muscle can lead to pain and stiffness. Treatments for SCM muscle injuries may include stretching, physical therapy, and osteopathic manipulation. The SCM muscle is also involved in the lateral flexion and rotation of the head, and when it contracts bilaterally, the head flexes or extends.
The SCM muscle is narrow and thicker in the middle where the sternal and clavicular heads merge. This unique structure allows the SCM muscle to play a crucial role in neck movement and stability. By contracting and relaxing, the SCM muscle enables the head to nod, turn, and tilt smoothly and precisely.
In summary, the sternocleidomastoid muscle, or SCM, is a vital neck muscle responsible for nodding the head. Its anatomical location, structure, and function contribute to our ability to move our heads in various directions with ease. Understanding the SCM muscle is essential for maintaining neck health and treating injuries or tension effectively.
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SCM muscle injuries and tension
The sternocleidomastoid (SCM) muscle is the largest neck muscle at the front of the neck. It is a powerful muscle that allows you to bend your neck and turn or tilt your head. SCM injuries and tension can lead to pain and stiffness.
SCM pain can be caused by tightness in another part of the body, resulting in referred pain in the SCM. It can also be caused by repeated activities that shorten and tighten the SCM, such as painting, carpentry, or playing the violin. Chronic health conditions, such as asthma, sinusitis, bronchitis, and acute respiratory infections, can also cause SCM pain.
SCM syndrome is a condition characterized by a unique set of symptoms resulting from SCM dysfunction. SCM syndrome can be caused by trauma, such as whiplash, nerve compression, impaired blood flow, and postural imbalance. It can also be caused by underlying conditions such as poor posture, stress and tension, repetitive strain, congenital muscular torticollis, and arthritis. SCM syndrome can mimic other conditions, such as tension headaches, cervical spine disorders, TMJ disorders, vertigo, fibromyalgia, and thoracic outlet syndrome.
There are several treatments for SCM pain and SCM syndrome, including stretching, physical therapy, osteopathic manipulation, massage therapy, acupuncture, heat and cold therapy, lifestyle modifications, nutrition, vision and dental check-ups, and mind-body techniques such as Tai Chi or Qigong. Preventative measures include managing stress, maintaining good posture, and proactive stretching.
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SCM muscle location
The muscle that nods the head is called the sternocleidomastoid (SCM) muscle. It is a two-headed neck muscle that attaches to the manubrium of the sternum (sterno-), the clavicle (-cleido-), and the mastoid process of the temporal bone (-mastoid). It is the largest neck muscle in the front of your neck.
The SCM muscle is a powerful muscle that allows you to bend your neck and turn or tilt your head. It starts at the bottom of your neck and wraps around both sides, ending at the base of your skull. The SCM muscle is a paired muscle, meaning it has two parts. One part, called the sternal head, begins at the breastbone and travels up both sides of the neck. The other part, the clavicular head, starts in the centre of the collarbones and travels up both sides of the neck, merging with the sternal head.
The SCM muscle is located just below the skin and can be felt on both the right and left sides of the neck. It is narrow and thicker in the middle where the sternal and clavicular heads come together. The SCM muscle borders two neck regions known as triangles: the inner part of the muscle bounds the anterior triangle, while the outer part bounds the posterior triangle. These triangles contain important nerves, blood vessels, lymph nodes, and glands.
The SCM muscle is an important landmark in the neck, dividing it into the anterior and posterior triangles. It helps protect the vertical neurovascular bundle of the neck, branches of the cervical plexus, deep cervical lymph nodes, and soft tissues of the neck from damage.
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SCM muscle shape
The sternocleidomastoid (SCM) muscle is a powerful neck muscle that allows you to bend your neck and turn or tilt your head. It is the largest neck muscle in the front of your neck. The SCM muscle is a paired muscle, with two parts. One part of the SCM muscle (the sternal head) begins at the breastbone and travels up both sides of the neck, merging with the other part of the SCM muscle, the clavicular head. The clavicular head begins in the centre of the collarbones and travels up both sides of the neck to merge with the sternal head. The SCM muscle ends at the mastoid process, a section of bone located at the base of the skull behind the ears.
The SCM muscle is wider and thinner where it starts and ends. It is narrow and thicker in the middle where the sternal and clavicular heads merge. The SCM borders two neck regions known as triangles: the anterior triangle and the posterior triangle. The triangles contain important nerves, blood vessels, lymph nodes and glands. The SCM can be palpated, and you can feel your pulse through it.
The SCM muscle is susceptible to pain and stiffness due to injuries, tension, and repeated motions. SCM pain can also be caused by certain health conditions, such as asthma and pneumonia. Treatments for SCM pain include stretching, physical therapy, osteopathic manipulation, and hot and cold therapies.
The SCM muscle has multiple functions and is an important anatomical landmark within the neck region. It acts in concert with the muscular group of the cervicofacial region, aiding in various complex physiological movements beyond its principal function as a lateral neck flexor. The unilateral contraction of the SCM results in a triple movement: the rotation of the head to the opposite side, the inclination to the side of its contraction, and extension.
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Other muscles that move the head
The sternocleidomastoid (SCM) muscle is the major muscle responsible for flexing and rotating the head. It is the largest neck muscle in the front of your neck and travels up both sides of the neck, ending at the mastoid process, which is located at the base of the skull behind the ears. When the SCM contracts unilaterally, the head rotates, and when it contracts bilaterally, the head flexes or extends.
- The frontalis muscle, located on the forehead, and the occipitalis muscle, located on the back of the head.
- The thyrohyoid muscle, which elevates the larynx's thyroid cartilage, and the sternothyroid muscle, which depresses it, creating different tones of voice.
- The splenius capitis muscle, which is involved in the lateral movement of the head and neck.
- The neck muscles, which balance, move, and rotate the head, which is attached to the top of the vertebral column.
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Frequently asked questions
The sternocleidomastoid (SCM) muscle is the major muscle that nods the head.
The SCM muscle is a powerful neck muscle that allows you to bend your neck and turn or tilt your head.
The SCM muscle travels up both sides of your neck and ends at the mastoid process, which is located at the base of your skull behind your ears.
Injuries and tension within the SCM muscle can lead to pain and stiffness. Treatments include stretching, physical therapy, and osteopathic manipulation.
