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The neck is made up of around 30 muscles, which are responsible for a range of movements, including supporting and stabilising the head, neck and upper spine, as well as assisting with chewing, swallowing and breathing. These muscles are skeletal muscles, meaning they are attached to bones by tendons, and are under voluntary control. The muscles of the neck are divided into three main groups: anterior (front), lateral (side) and posterior (back), with the anterior group being further divided into four distinct regions: superficial, suprahyoid, infrahyoid and scalene muscles.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of neck muscles | 30 |
| Muscle type | Skeletal |
| Muscle function | Voluntary |
| Muscle location | Front, sides, and back of the neck |
| Muscle origin | Below the skull |
| Muscle insertion | Near the middle of the back, around the shoulder blades |
| Anterior muscle subgroups | Superficial, Suprahyoid, Infrahyoid, Scalene |
| Superficial muscle function | Help extend and rotate the head |
| Lateral muscle function | Control head movements from the base of the skull |
| Posterior muscle types | Superficial, Suboccipital, Transversospinalis |
| Suboccipital muscle location | Below the occipital bone at the base of the skull |
| Transversospinalis function | Move the head forward and backward, tilt it from side to side, stabilize the spine |
| Infrahyoid muscle function | Move the larynx up and down |
| Scalene muscle function | Move the first two ribs up and down, help with breathing |
| Ligaments in the neck | Anterior longitudinal ligament (ALL), Posterior longitudinal ligament (PLL) |
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What You'll Learn
- The anterior neck muscles are divided into three subgroups: superficial, suprahyoid, and infrahyoid
- The posterior neck muscles are responsible for neck extension
- The suboccipital muscles are below the occipital bone and help extend the head
- The infrahyoid muscles are below the hyoid bone and move the larynx
- The lateral neck muscles control head movements from the skull base
The anterior neck muscles are divided into three subgroups: superficial, suprahyoid, and infrahyoid
The neck muscles are skeletal muscles, attached to bones by tendons. They are voluntary muscles, meaning we control their movement. The neck muscles are categorised as anterior (front), lateral (side) and posterior (back).
The suprahyoid muscles are found above the hyoid bone, a bone at the top of the neck, just below the jawline. They include the digastric, mylohyoid, geniohyoid and stylohyoid muscles. These muscles facilitate chewing, swallowing, and speech. They also stabilise the hyoid bone, which lacks articulation with other bones. The digastric muscle has two bellies, connected by a tendon, and it depresses the mandible. The mylohyoid and digastric muscles receive innervation from the mylohyoid nerve. The geniohyoid muscle is short and triangular, and it receives its nerve supply from the first cervical nerve via the hypoglossal nerve. The stylohyoid muscle is thin and elongated.
The infrahyoid muscles are found below the hyoid bone. They include the omohyoid, sternohyoid, sternothyroid, and thyrohyoid. They are responsible for the positioning of the hyoid bone, along with the suprahyoid muscles. They also play a role in swallowing and the movement of the larynx. The omohyoid and sternohyoid muscles are superficial, while the sternothyroid and thyrohyoid are deep plane muscles. The sternohyoid is the most superficial of the infrahyoid muscles. It functions to depress the hyoid bone. The sternothyroid depresses the thyroid cartilage. The thyrohyoid elevates the larynx when the hyoid bone is fixed.
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The posterior neck muscles are responsible for neck extension
The neck muscles are a complex musculoskeletal system that connects the base of the skull to the torso. There are about 30 neck muscles, which can be categorised into anterior (front), lateral (side/prevertebral), and posterior (back) muscles. The position of a muscle or group of muscles in the neck generally relates to its function.
The suboccipital muscles are another type of posterior neck muscle, located just below the occipital bone at the base of the skull. They help extend the head in different directions. These include the rectus capitis posterior major and rectus capitis posterior minor, which attach the inferior nuchal line of the occiput to the C2 and C1 vertebrae, respectively. The obliquus capitis superior also extends from the occiput to C1, while the obliquus capitis inferior originates from C2 and attaches to C1.
The transversospinalis muscles are a third type of posterior neck muscle. They help move the head forward and backward, as well as tilt it from side to side. They also help stabilise the spine and move the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar regions of the spine.
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The suboccipital muscles are below the occipital bone and help extend the head
The neck muscles are skeletal muscles, which means they are attached to bones by tendons. They are voluntary muscles, so we can control their movement. The neck muscles are divided into three main categories: anterior (front), lateral (side), and posterior (back). The suboccipital muscles are a group of four muscles located in the posterior region of the neck, underneath 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 are responsible for rotating the head and extending the neck.
The suboccipital muscles are located deep to the sternocleidomastoid, trapezius, splenius, and semispinalis muscles. They are innervated by the suboccipital nerve, which is formed by the dorsal ramus of C1. The suboccipital nerve is important for surgeons operating in the posterior cervical region to avoid life-threatening bleeding. The vertebral artery, which supplies blood to the suboccipital muscles, takes a tortuous course behind these muscles. The suboccipital triangle, an anatomical landmark, is formed by three of the four suboccipital muscles. This triangle helps localize the vertebral artery and the suboccipital nerve.
The rectus capitis posterior major is the larger of the two rectus capitis muscles, and it is located laterally to the rectus capitis posterior minor. It originates from the spinous process of the C2 vertebrae and inserts into the lateral part of the inferior nuchal line of the occipital bone. The rectus capitis posterior minor is the most medial of the suboccipital muscles, and it originates from the posterior tubercle of the C1 vertebra, attaching to the medial part of the inferior nuchal line of the occipital bone.
The obliquus capitis superior is located laterally in the suboccipital compartment. It originates from the transverse process of C1 and attaches to the occipital bone between the superior and inferior nuchal lines. The obliquus capitis inferior is the most inferiorly positioned of the suboccipital muscles, and it is the only muscle in this group without an attachment to the cranium. It originates from the spinous process of the C2 vertebra and attaches to the transverse process of C1.
The suboccipital muscles, along with the lateral neck muscles, help control head movements from the base of the skull. They enable us to twist and tilt our heads and stabilize the bones in our necks (cervical spine). These muscles also help maintain posture and produce movements of the head, including extension, lateral flexion, and rotation at the atlanto-axial joints.
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The infrahyoid muscles are below the hyoid bone and move the larynx
The neck is comprised of about 30 muscles that enable a variety of movements. These muscles are categorised into four main groups: suboccipital, scalene, anterior, and lateral. The anterior group can be further divided into four subgroups: superficial, suprahyoid, infrahyoid, and scalene muscles.
The infrahyoid muscles are a group of four muscles located below the hyoid bone in the anterior part of the neck. They are also referred to as "strap muscles". The four infrahyoid muscles are the sternohyoid, omohyoid, sternothyroid, and thyrohyoid. The omohyoid muscle is comprised of two muscle bellies, which are connected by a muscular tendon. The superior belly arises from the hyoid bone, while the inferior belly arises from the scapula.
The infrahyoid muscles connect the hyoid bone to the sternum, larynx, and scapula. They are supplied by the ansa cervicalis (C1, C2, C3), a nerve loop on the internal jugular vein. The thyrohyoid muscle is the only exception, as it is supplied by nerve fibres from the anterior ramus of spinal nerve C1, which reaches the muscle via the hypoglossal nerve.
The infrahyoid muscles are responsible for depressing the hyoid bone. If the hyoid bone is fixed, they can elevate the larynx. They play an active role in swallowing and the movement of the larynx. Specifically, the sternothyroid depresses the larynx, while the thyrohyoid elevates it.
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The lateral neck muscles control head movements from the skull base
The neck is a complex structure of bones, muscles, nerves, blood vessels, lymphatics, and other connective tissues. The neck muscles are skeletal muscles, meaning they are attached to bones by tendons. There are about 30 neck muscles, extending from the base of the skull and jaw down to the shoulder blades and collarbone. These muscles support and stabilise the head, neck, and the upper part of the spine, while also helping with chewing, swallowing, and breathing.
The lateral neck muscles control head movements from the base of the skull. They help twist the head from side to side and twist and tilt the cervical spine. These muscles include the suboccipital and transversospinalis muscles. The suboccipital muscles are just below the occipital bone at the base of the skull and help extend the head in different directions. The transversospinalis muscles help move the head forward and backward, as well as tilt it from side to side. They also help stabilise the spine and move the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar regions of the spine.
The neck muscles are divided into three main categories: anterior (front), lateral (side), and posterior (back). The anterior neck muscles are further divided into four subgroups: superficial, suprahyoid, infrahyoid, and scalene muscles. The posterior neck muscles are primarily responsible for head movements, such as extension. The back muscles stabilise and move the vertebral column.
The neck muscles support the skull while allowing for movement. The cervical spine, which is the bony part of the neck, 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, making proper neck movement vital for survival.
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Frequently asked questions
The neck muscles are at the front, sides and back of your neck. They begin just beneath the base of your skull and extend down near the middle of your back, around your shoulder blades.
The anterior neck muscles are divided into three subgroups: superficial, suprahyoid, and infrahyoid. The superficial subgroup includes the platysma and sternocleidomastoid. The suprahyoid muscles include the digastric, mylohyoid, geniohyoid, and stylohyoid. The infrahyoid muscles include the sternohyoid, omohyoid, sternothyroid, and thyrohyoid.
The lateral neck muscles control head movements from the base of the skull and help twist and tilt the cervical spine. They include the scalene muscles, which move the first two ribs up and down to facilitate breathing.
The posterior neck muscles include the superficial, suboccipital, and transversospinalis muscles. The suboccipital muscles are just below the occipital bone at the base of the skull and help extend the head in different directions. The transversospinalis muscles help move the head forward and backward and tilt it from side to side.
