C-spine & Neck

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Test All | Origins | Insertions | Actions | Nerves | Random | Print Blank Table Back
Muscle	Origin	Insertion	Action	Nerve
Superficial Anterior Neck
Platysma	Superficial fascia over upper part of deltoid & pectoralis major	Mandible; skin & muscles over mandible & angle of mouth	Depresses lower jaw & lip & angle of mouth; wrinkles skin of neck	Facial nerve (CN-VII)
sternocleidomastoid	sternal head: manubrium of sternum; clavicular head: medial 1/3 of clavicle	mastoid process of temporal bone; lateral 1/2 of superior nuchal line	rotates to side opposite of contraction; laterally flexes to contracted side; bilaterally flexes neck	motor: spinal accessory (XI cranial); sensory: ventral rami of C2,(C3)
Suprahyoid Muscles
Digastric	Anterior belly from digastric fossa of mandible; posterior belly from mastoid notch	Intermediate tendon attached to body of hyoid	Elevates hyoid & tongue; depresses mandible	Posterior belly by facial nerve; anterior belly by mylohyoid nerve or trigeminal nerve
Mylohyoid	Mylohyoid line of mandible	Median raphe & body of hyoid bone	Elevates hyoid & tongue; depresses mandible	Mylohyoid nerve or trigeminal nerve
Stylohyoid	Styloid process	Body of hyoid	Elevates hyoid	Facial nerve
Geniohyoid	Genial tubercle of mandible	Body of hyoid	Elevates hyoid & tongue	C1 via hypoglossal nerve
Infrahyoid Muscles
Sternohyoid	Manubrium sterni & medial end of clavicle	Body of hyoid	Depresses hyoid & larynx	Ansa cervicalis
Sternothyroid	Manubrium sterni; first costal cartilage	Oblique line of thyroid cartilage	Depresses thyroid cartilage & larynx	Ansa cervicalis
Thyrohyoid	Oblique line of thyroid cartilage	Body & greater horn of hyoid	Depresses & retracts hyoid & larynx	C1 via hypogloassal nerve
Omohyoid	Inferior belly from medial lip of suprascapular notch & suprascapular ligament; superior belly from intermediate tendon	Inferior belly to intermediate tendon; superior belly to body of hyoid	Depresses & retracts hyoid & larynx	Ansa cervicalis
Deep Anterior Cervical Muscles (prevertebrals)
longus coli	lower anterior vertebral bodies & TP of C3-T3	anterior vertebral bodies & TP C1-C6	flexion & lateral flexion of neck; rotation of neck	cervical spinal nerves (ventral rami C2-C6)
longus capitis	TP of C3-C5 (anterior tubercles)	occipital bone (basilar portion)	flexion of head & neck; lateral flexion of head & neck	cervical spinal nerves (ventral rami C1-C3)
rectus capitis anterior	atlas (C1) (anterior base of TP)	occipital bone (basilar part anterior to foramen magnum)	flexion of head	cervical spinal nerves (ventral rami C1-C2)
rectus capitis lateralis	atlas (C1) (superior surface of TP)	occipital bone (jugular process)	lateral flexion of head	cervical spinal nerves (ventral rami C1-C2)
Scalenes (paravertebrals)
scalene anterior	TP of C3-C6 (anterior tubercles)	1st rib (scalene tubercle)	flexion & lateral flexion of neck; rotation of neck (weakly); elevation of 1st rib (if neck is stabilized)	cervical spinal nerves (ventral rami C3-C6)
scalene middle	TP C2-C7 (posterior tubercle)	1st rib (behind anterior scalene)	flexion & lateral flexion of neck; elevation of 1st rib (if cervical vertebrae are fixed)	cervical spinal nerves (ventral rami C3-C8)
scalene posterior	TP of C5-C7 (posterior tubercles)	2nd and/or 3rd rib	lateral flexion of neck; elevation of 2nd rib (if cervical vertebrae are fixed)	cervical spinal nerves (ventral rami C6-C8)
scalenus minimus	TP C6-C7 (anterior tubercles)	1st rib and/or supraplural membrane	flexion & lateral flexion of neck; rotation of neck (weakly); elevation of 2nd rib & superior pleura of lung (if neck is stabilized)	variable (cervical & brachial plexus)

 

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Muscle	Origin	Insertion	Action	Nerve
Superficial Posterior Neck
trapezius	external occipital protuberance (EOP); medial side of superior nuchal line; nuchal ligament; SPs of C7-T12	lateral 1/3 of clavicle; acromion; spine of scapula	stabilization of scapula; elevation scapula; upward rotation of scapula (upper fibers); downward rotation of scapula (lower fibers); retraction (adduction) of scapula; lateral flexion of head (unilateral); extension of head (bilateral)	spinal accessory (CN XI), ventral rami of C2-C4
splenius capitis	nuchal ligament (lower portion); SPs of C3-T4	mastoid process of temporal bone, occipital bone (superior nuchal line)	bilateral contraction: extension of head & neck; unilateral contraction: rotation & lateral flexion of head & neck to ipsilateral side	cervical spinal nerves (dorsal rami)
splenius cervicis	SPs of T3-T6	TP of C1-C3 (posterior tubercles)	bilateral contraction: extension of head & neck; unilateral contraction: rotation & lateral flexion of head & neck to ipsilateral side	cervical spinal nerve (dorsal rami)
levator scapulae	TP of C1-C4	superior medial border of scapula	elevation of scapula; extension & lateral flexion of neck	dorsal scapular nerve (C3, C4, C5)
spinalis	thoracis: SPs T11-L2 cervicis: SP of C7 & inferior nuchal ligament capitis: TPs of C7-T6 & articular process of C4-C6 (medial part of semispinalis)	thoracis: SPs of T4-T8 cervicis: SP of C2 capitis: occipital bone (considered to be the medial part of semispinalis)	bilateral: extension of the spine & head (maintenance of erect posture); unilateral: lateral flexion & rotation to same side of the spine & head; opposite muscles contract eccentrically for stabilization	dorsal rami of spinal nerves
longissimus	thoracis: iliac crest, posterior sacrum, TPs L1-L5 cervicis: TPs of T1-T5 capitis: TPs & articular processes of C5-C7 & TPs of T1-T4	thoracis: TPs of T1-12 & ribs 4-12 (medial to tubercle) cervicis: TPs & posterior tubercles of C2-C6 capitis: temporal bone (mastoid process)	bilateral: extension of the spine & head (maintenance of erect posture); unilateral: lateral flexion & rotation to same side of the spine & head; opposite muscles contract eccentrically for stabilization	dorsal rami of spinal nerves
semispinalis	thoracis: TPs of T6-T10 cervicis: TPs of T1-T5 capitis: TPs of C7-T6 & articular process of C4-C6	thoracis: SPs of C6-T4 cervicis: SPs of C2-C5 capitis: occipital bone (between superior & inferior nuchal lines)	bilateral: extension of head & neck; controls lateral flexion to side opposite contraction (eccentric for stability); maintains head posture	spinal nerve (dorsal rami)
Suboccipitals
obliquus capitis inferior	SP of axis (C2)	TP of atlas (C1)	rotation of head to ipsilateral side	suboccipital nerve (dorsal rami C1)
obliquus capitis superior	TP of atlas (C1)	between superior & inferior nuchal line of occiput	bilateral: extension of head; unilateral: lateral flexion of head to ipsilateral side	suboccipital nerve (dorsal rami C1)
rectus capitis posterior major	SP of axis (C2)	lateral 1/2 inferior nuchal line (occipital bone)	bilateral: extension of head; unilateral: lateral flexion & rotation of head to contracted side	suboccipital nerve (dorsal rami C1)
rectus capitis posterior minor	posterior tubercle of atlas (C1)	medial 1/2 of inferior nuchal line (occipital bone)	bilaterally extends head	suboccipital nerve (dorsal rami C1)

These muscle tables are often slightly different than those found in the muscle manual and other texts to allow students learning to realize there are subtle differences in anatomical variation and nomenclature ultimate allowing you to be more aware of real life presentation – after 15 years and over 400 cadaver dissections this author is always amazed at the differences found in the human body every time we are in the cadaver lab – all text books and videos are only accurate to a point!