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The cervical spine, or neck, is a complex structure of bones, muscles, nerves, blood vessels, and connective tissues. It is composed of seven vertebrae (C1 to C7), which are connected by facet joints, allowing for forward, backward, and twisting motions of the neck. The neck muscles can be categorized into anterior, lateral, and posterior groups, with specific muscles including the trapezius, levator scapulae, and sternocleidomastoid, which enable movements such as head rotation and neck flexion. The cervical spine supports the weight of the head while allowing for a range of motions, including rotation, flexion, and extension. Its flexibility enables large movements and scanning of surroundings. The cervical spine also provides protection for the spinal cord and arteries, with the muscles of the neck safeguarding other vital neurovascular structures.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of cervical vertebrae | 7 |
| First cervical vertebra | C1, also known as the atlas |
| Second cervical vertebra | C2, also known as the axis |
| Function | Supports the weight of the head, allowing it to tilt forward, backward, turn from side to side, and bend to one side |
| Muscles involved | Trapezius, Levator scapulae, Erector spinae, Deep cervical flexors, Suboccipital muscles, Sternocleidomastoid, Platysma, Suprahyoids, Infrahyoids, Rotatores, Multifidus, Semispinalis, Longissimus capitis, Longissimus cervicis, Spinalis cervicis, Semispinalis capitis, Semispinalis cervicis, Semispinalis thoracis, Rotatores cervicis, Iliocostalis cervicis, Iliocostalis thoracis |
| Nerves involved | Cervical nerves C1-C8, Cervical plexus, Brachial plexus |
| Arteries involved | Vertebral arteries, Common carotid artery, Internal carotid artery, External carotid artery, Subclavian artery |
| Ligaments involved | Anterior longitudinal ligament, Posterior longitudinal ligament, Ligamentum flavum, Intertransverse ligament, Interspinous ligament, Supraspinous ligament, Ligamentum nuchae |
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What You'll Learn
- The neck's musculoskeletal columns are divided into anterior, lateral, and posterior vertebral muscle groups
- The neck contains six major functional muscle groups, including flexors, extensors, and rotators
- The sternocleidomastoid muscle helps with head rotation and tilting the chin
- The levator scapulae muscle attaches to the first four cervical vertebrae and the top of the shoulder blade
- The scalene muscles are three pairs of lateral neck muscles that help with neck flexion and side bending
The neck's musculoskeletal columns are divided into anterior, lateral, and posterior vertebral muscle groups
The neck is a complex structure of bones, muscles, nerves, blood vessels, lymphatics, and other connective tissues. The neck muscles are responsible for the movement of the head in all directions. They consist of three main groups of muscles: anterior, lateral (prevertebral), and posterior neck muscles. These muscles form musculoskeletal columns around the vertebra.
The neck muscles can be further divided into more specific groups based on depth, location, and function. The sternocleidomastoid muscle, for instance, divides the neck into the anterior region and vertebral regions. It also allows the head to rotate side-to-side and tilt upward. The platysma is another superficial muscle that affects the anterior neck region by depressing the mandible and angle of the mouth, and affecting the tension of the skin of the lower face.
The intermediate back muscles are just above and below the ribcage and help move the ribs during breathing. The serratus posterior superior is found in the space between the shoulder blades, while the serratus posterior inferior is found at the bottom of the ribcage.
The intrinsic muscles are the deepest layer of back muscles, sitting closest to the spine. They are divided into their own subgroups: superficial, intermediate, and deep. The longus colli, or longus cervicis, is a long muscle that spans the entire length of the cervical spine and the upper vertebrae of the thoracic spine.
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The neck contains six major functional muscle groups, including flexors, extensors, and rotators
The neck is a complex structure of bones, muscles, nerves, blood vessels, lymphatics, and connective tissues. It supports the skull and allows for a wide range of movements. The neck muscles can be divided into six major functional groups: flexors, extensors, rotators, elevators, lateral flexors, and stabilizers.
Flexors
The deep cervical flexors run down the front of the cervical spine and allow for forward flexion of the neck. The longus colli, also known as the longus cervicis, is a long muscle that spans the cervical and upper thoracic spine. It flexes the neck, with the inferior part producing weak ipsilateral flexion and contralateral rotation. The anterior scalene muscle, which is the most anterior of the scalene muscles, also contributes to ipsilateral flexion.
Extensors
The splenius muscles extend the head when contracted bilaterally, while unilateral contraction produces lateral flexion and rotation to the same side. The erector spinae group of muscles in the cervical spine area assists with backward neck extension. The semispinalis cervicis arises from the transverse processes of the vertebrae and inserts into the spinous processes of the cervical vertebrae, contributing to neck extension.
Rotators
The suboccipital muscles, located just below the occipital bone at the base of the skull, help extend the head in different directions. Depending on which muscle of the group contracts, they can produce extension, lateral flexion, and rotation at the atlanto-axial joint. The lateral neck muscles, including the anterior, middle, and posterior scalene muscles, produce ipsilateral flexion of the neck. The sternocleidomastoid muscle, located on each side of the neck, enables side-to-side rotation of the head and chin elevation.
Elevators, Lateral Flexors, and Stabilizers
The trapezius muscles help lift the shoulder blades, bend the head to the side, and rotate the head. The levator scapulae muscle also assists in lifting the shoulder blade and rotating the head. The transversospinalis muscles, including the semispinalis and multifidus, help move the head forward and backward, as well as tilt it from side to side. They also contribute to spine stabilization.
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The sternocleidomastoid muscle helps with head rotation and tilting the chin
The sternocleidomastoid (SCM) muscle is a powerful neck muscle that plays a crucial role in head rotation and tilting the chin. Located just below the skin on both sides of the neck, it is one of the largest and most superficial cervical muscles. The SCM muscle originates from two locations: the manubrium of the sternum (sternal head) and the clavicle (clavicular head), giving it a distinctive two-headed structure.
The primary function of the SCM muscle is to facilitate the rotation of the head to the opposite side. When one side of the SCM muscle acts alone, it causes the head to rotate to the opposite direction, allowing us to turn our heads left or right. This rotation is crucial for our ability to scan our surroundings and adjust to our environment. Additionally, the SCM muscle assists in tilting the chin upward by enabling neck extension.
Furthermore, the SCM muscle is involved in maintaining posture and stabilising the neck. It helps keep the neck stable even when we are not moving. The SCM muscle also plays a role in breathing by working with other neck muscles to lift the breastbone and collarbone during inhalation, creating space for the lungs to expand. Additionally, it supports the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), which connects the jaw to the skull and enables us to open and close our mouths.
The SCM muscle is susceptible to injuries and tension, which can lead to pain, stiffness, and conditions such as sternocleidomastoid syndrome. Proper care of the SCM muscle involves managing stress, maintaining good posture, and performing stretching exercises to prevent and treat any discomfort.
In summary, the sternocleidomastoid muscle is instrumental in head rotation, allowing us to turn our heads from side to side. It also assists in tilting the chin upward through neck extension. Beyond these functions, the SCM muscle contributes to posture, breathing, and jaw movement, highlighting its importance in maintaining overall neck stability and functionality.
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The levator scapulae muscle attaches to the first four cervical vertebrae and the top of the shoulder blade
The levator scapulae muscle is a long and slender muscle that belongs to the superficial layer of extrinsic muscles of the back. It is a posterior axio-appenducular muscle that connects the upper limb to the vertebral column. The levator scapulae muscle attaches to the first four cervical vertebrae (C1-C4) and the top of the shoulder blade (scapula).
The levator scapulae muscle helps lift the shoulder blade, bend the head to the side, and rotate the head. It also acts with other muscles such as the trapezius, latissimus dorsi, and rhomboids to stabilize the spine, extend and laterally flex the neck, and inferiorly rotate the glenoid cavity.
The main function of the levator scapulae muscle is to elevate and retract the shoulder girdle at the scapulothoracic joint. It helps prevent the depression of the girdle when carrying heavy loads. The levator scapulae muscle is supplied by the dorsal scapular artery, a branch of the subclavian artery.
The cervical spine, or neck, is the bony part of the neck and consists of seven distinct vertebrae (C1-C7). It supports the weight of the head and allows for movement, including flexion, extension, rotation, and lateral flexion. The cervical spine also provides protection for the spinal cord and vertebral arteries. The neck muscles can be categorized into anterior, lateral (prevertebral), and posterior neck muscles, with the levator scapulae muscle belonging to the posterior group.
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The scalene muscles are three pairs of lateral neck muscles that help with neck flexion and side bending
The neck is a complex structure of many 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. The cervical vertebrae serve as the origination and insertion points for a host of muscles that support and enable movement of the head and neck. These muscles can be divided into anterior, lateral, and posterior groups based on their position in the neck.
The scalene muscles are three paired muscles (anterior, middle, and posterior) located in the lateral aspect of the neck. They form part of the floor of the posterior triangle of the neck. The scalene muscles are deep and positioned laterally in the neck. They are innervated by the third to the eighth cervical spinal nerves (C3-C8). The scalene muscles collectively act to elevate the first and second ribs, increasing intrathoracic volume. In patients with respiratory distress, the scalene muscles may be used as 'accessory muscles of respiration' to aid with breathing. The scalene muscles also contribute to cervical posture and play a role in neck movements, including lateral inclination and the initial degrees of head rotation. Bilateral contraction of the scalene muscles causes neck flexion, while ipsilateral contraction causes ipsilateral lateral flexion of the neck.
The anterior scalene muscle is located deep to the sternocleidomastoid on the lateral aspect of the neck. It originates from the anterior tubercles of the transverse processes of C3-C6 and attaches onto the scalene tubercle on the inner border of the first rib. The middle scalene is the largest and longest of the three scalene muscles. It has several long, thin muscle bellies arising from the cervical spine, which converge into one large belly that inserts into the first rib. The posterior scalene is the smallest and deepest of the scalene muscles. It arises by two or three separate tendons from the posterior tubercles of the transverse processes of C4-C6 and is inserted by a thin tendon into the outer surface of the second rib.
The scalene muscles have an important relationship to other structures in the neck. 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. The passing of the brachial plexus and the subclavian artery through the space of the anterior and middle scalene muscles constitute the scalene hiatus.
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Frequently asked questions
The cervical vertebrae are the seven distinct vertebrae that make up the cervical spine, also known as the neck. They support the weight of the head and enable head and neck movement.
The muscles that rotate the cervical vertebrae include the sternocleidomastoid, the levator scapulae, the erector spinae, the deep cervical flexors, the suboccipital muscles, and the transversospinal muscles.
The cervical rotation range of motion is typically close to 70 degrees.
The cervical spine supports the head and enables head and neck movement. It also provides protection for the spinal cord and vertebral arteries.
The cervical nerves are labelled C1 through C8, and they stimulate muscle movement and provide sensation in the neck, shoulder, arm, and hand.
