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The neck is a complex structure of bones, muscles, nerves, blood vessels, lymphatics, and connective tissues. There are about 30 neck muscles, which can be divided into anterior, lateral, and posterior groups. These muscles support and stabilise the head, neck, and upper spine, and help with movements like chewing, swallowing, and breathing. The neck's flexibility allows for large movements to scan our surroundings and adjust to our environment. The muscles that enable these movements include the sternocleidomastoid, longus colli, and scalene muscles.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of neck muscles | 30 |
| Muscle categories | Anterior (front), lateral (side), posterior (back) |
| Anterior muscle regions | Superficial, suprahyoid, infrahyoid, scalene |
| Posterior muscle types | Superficial, suboccipital, transversospinalis |
| Lateral muscle types | Anterior, middle, posterior scalene |
| Muscles that flex the neck | Sternocleidomastoid, longus colli, scalene muscles, rectus capitis anterior |
| Muscle functions | Support and stabilise the head, neck, and upper spine; enable head movement; assist with chewing, swallowing, and breathing |
| Muscle injuries | Strains are usually not serious, but serious injuries may require immediate medical attention |
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What You'll Learn
- Anterior neck muscles, e.g. the longus colli, flex the neck when the ribs are fixed
- Sternocleidomastoid muscles, when contracted bilaterally, produce flexion of the neck
- Deep neck flexors, or prevertebral cervical muscles, are vital for neck strength and stability
- Posterior neck muscles, e.g. suboccipital muscles, help extend the neck
- Lateral neck muscles, e.g. the scalene muscles, help produce ipsilateral flexion of the neck
Anterior neck muscles, e.g. the longus colli, flex the neck when the ribs are fixed
The neck is a complex structure of bones, muscles, nerves, blood vessels, lymphatics, and other connective tissues. It supports the skull while allowing for a wide range of movements. Neck muscles can be divided into three main categories: anterior (front), lateral (side), and posterior (back).
Anterior neck muscles, such as the longus colli, are responsible for flexing the neck when the ribs are fixed. The longus colli is a long muscle that runs the entire length of the neck, from the atlas (first cervical vertebra) to T3 (third thoracic vertebra). It is broad in the middle and narrow at both ends. The muscle consists of three parts: superior oblique, inferior oblique, and vertical. The superior oblique portion originates from the anterior tubercles of the transverse processes of the third, fourth, and fifth cervical vertebrae (C3-C5) and inserts into the anterior tubercle of the atlas. The inferior oblique portion, the smallest of the three, arises from the first two or three thoracic vertebrae and inserts into the anterior tubercles of the fifth and sixth cervical vertebrae. The vertical intermediate part arises from the lower three cervical and superior three thoracic vertebrae (C5-T3) and inserts onto the anterior surface of the second, third, and fourth cervical vertebrae (C2-C4).
The longus colli is an important muscle for neck flexion, and its bilateral contraction results in forward flexion of the neck. Additionally, the inferior part of the muscle can produce a weak ipsilateral flexion and contralateral rotation of the neck. The muscle is innervated by the anterior rami of the second to sixth cervical spinal nerves (C2-C6), and its blood supply comes from the muscular branches of three arteries: the inferior thyroid, the ascending pharyngeal, and the ascending cervical artery, a branch of the subclavian artery.
The anterior neck muscles also include the rectus capitis anterior, rectus capitis lateralis, and scalenus anterior. These muscles, along with the longus colli, are referred to as prevertebral or anterior prevertebral muscles as they are located just anterior to the cervical vertebral column. They are surrounded by the prevertebral fascia of the neck. The rectus capitis anterior, in particular, contributes to cervical flexion by flexing the head at the atlanto-occipital joint and stabilizing this joint.
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Sternocleidomastoid muscles, when contracted bilaterally, produce flexion of the neck
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 can be categorized into anterior, lateral, and posterior muscles.
The sternocleidomastoid is a large, two-headed muscle in the front of the neck. It is one of the largest and most superficial cervical muscles. The name sternocleidomastoid is derived from its origin at the manubrium of the sternum (sterno-) and the clavicle (cleido-), with an insertion at the mastoid process of the temporal bone of the skull (mastoid).
The sternocleidomastoid muscle plays a crucial role in neck flexion. When contracted unilaterally, it produces lateral flexion of the neck on the same side and lateral rotation of the head to the opposite side. However, when contracted bilaterally, the sternocleidomastoid muscles produce flexion of the neck, drawing the head towards the chest. This bilateral contraction flexes the lower cervical column, resulting in an overall bending of the neck forward.
The function of the sternocleidomastoid muscle depends on whether it acts alone or in conjunction with its counterpart on the other side. The muscle is innervated by the accessory nerve (CN XI) and the anterior rami of spinal nerves C2 and C3. It receives its vascular supply from branches of the occipital, posterior auricular, superior thyroid, and suprascapular arteries.
In summary, the sternocleidomastoid muscles, when contracted bilaterally, cause flexion of the neck, bringing the head closer to the chest. This movement is facilitated by the flexion of the lower cervical column. Additionally, these muscles play a vital role in neck movements and stability, allowing us to perform various tasks and interact with our environment effectively.
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Deep neck flexors, or prevertebral cervical muscles, are vital for neck strength and stability
The neck is a complex structure of bones, muscles, nerves, blood vessels, and connective tissues. It is responsible for connecting the head to the torso and enabling a wide range of movements. Neck muscles can be broadly categorised into anterior, lateral, and posterior muscles.
Deep neck flexors, also known as prevertebral cervical muscles, are a vital component of the neck's musculoskeletal system. These muscles, including the longus colli, longus capitis, and rectus capitis, are located just anterior to the cervical vertebral column. Despite their small size, they play a crucial role in neck strength and stability.
The primary function of the deep neck flexors is to facilitate flexion of the head to varying degrees. For instance, the rectus capitis anterior muscle flexes the head at the atlanto-occipital joint, allowing movements like nodding. These muscles also provide stability to the cervical column and the skull, acting as antagonists to the larger cervical spine extensors.
Weak or underactive deep neck flexors can lead to neck pain and injuries. Craniocervical flexion exercises (CFE) and deep cervical flexor training can help prevent and rehabilitate such conditions. These exercises aim to retrain the deep neck flexors, improving neck strength, posture, and function.
In summary, deep neck flexors are essential for maintaining neck stability and facilitating a wide range of head and neck movements. Their small yet powerful nature underscores their importance in the overall function and health of the neck region.
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Posterior neck muscles, e.g. suboccipital muscles, help extend the neck
The neck is a complex structure of bones, muscles, nerves, blood vessels, lymphatics, and other connective tissues. It is made up of about 30 muscles, which support and stabilise the head, neck, and the upper part of the spine. These muscles also help us move our head in different directions and assist with chewing, swallowing, and breathing.
The neck muscles can be divided into three main categories: anterior (front), lateral (side or prevertebral), and posterior (back). The posterior neck muscles include superficial, suboccipital, and transversospinalis muscles.
The suboccipital muscles are a group of four muscles located just below the occipital bone at the base of the skull. These muscles are the rectus capitis posterior major, rectus capitis posterior minor, obliquus capitis superior, and obliquus capitis inferior. They help extend the head in different directions and enable neck extension and rotation movements. They also serve as postural support for the head and neck.
The rectus capitis posterior minor muscle is particularly important, as its injury can result in cervicogenic headaches. This muscle also has a myodural bridge that connects it to the intracranial dura. When this bridge is stretched or inflamed due to cervical spine joint dysfunction or excessive tightness of the suboccipital triangle muscles, it can cause cervicogenic headaches.
In summary, the posterior neck muscles, including the suboccipital muscles, play a crucial role in extending the neck and enabling various head movements. They provide support and stability to the head and neck region, allowing us to perform a wide range of functions.
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Lateral neck muscles, e.g. the scalene muscles, help produce ipsilateral flexion of the neck
The neck is a complex structure of bones, muscles, nerves, blood vessels, lymphatics, and connective tissues. It is comprised of around 30 muscles, which support and stabilise the head, neck, and upper spine. These muscles also enable head movement in different directions, as well as assisting with chewing, swallowing, and breathing.
The lateral neck muscles, also known as the lateral vertebral muscles, are a group of muscles that pass obliquely along the lateral sides of the neck. These include the scalene muscles: the scalenus anterior (anterior scalene), scalenus medius (middle scalene), and scalenus posterior (posterior scalene). The scalene muscles are the three muscles found on each side of the neck, spanning between the cervical vertebrae and the upper two ribs.
The main functions of the scalene muscles are flexion, lateral flexion, and rotation of the neck. They are also accessory muscles of respiration, elevating the ribs during forced inspiration. The anterior scalene muscle is the most anterior of the scalene muscles. It arises from the anterior tubercles of the transverse processes of vertebrae C3-C6 and inserts onto the scalene tubercle and the superior border of the first rib.
The middle scalene is the largest and longest of the three scalene muscles. It arises from the cervical spine and inserts into the first rib. The posterior scalene is the smallest and deepest of the scalene muscles, inserting into the second rib.
The scalenus medius and scalenus anterior muscles produce strong ipsilateral flexion of the neck. Similarly, unilateral contraction of the scalenus posterior results in ipsilateral lateral flexion of the neck. The scalenus anterior can also produce flexion of the neck when the costal attachment is fixed.
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Frequently asked questions
The anterior neck muscles are a group of muscles located at the front of the neck. They can be further divided into four regions: superficial, suprahyoid, infrahyoid, and scalene muscles. Superficial muscles include the platysma and sternocleidomastoid.
The lateral neck muscles, also known as the lateral vertebral muscles, are a group of muscles that pass obliquely along the sides of the neck. They include the anterior, middle, and posterior scalene muscles. The anterior scalene muscle causes flexion of the neck when it contracts bilaterally.
The posterior neck muscles are located at the back of the neck. They include the superficial, suboccipital, and transversospinalis muscles. The suboccipital muscles help rotate the head and extend the neck.
