This document describes the various muscles of the neck region, dividing them into anterior, posterior and lateral groups. It provides details on the location, origin, insertion, nerve supply and action of each muscle, including the longus capitis, rectus capitis anterior, rectus capitis lateralis, sternocleidomastoid, scalene muscles, platysma, longissimus capitis, oblique capitis superior, rectus capitis posterior, semispinalis capitis, splenius capitis and trapezius.

1. Muscles Of
NeckBy: Raj Maheshwari

2. Muscles Of Neck Region can be divided into
three groups :
•Anterior
•Posterior
•Lateral

3. Longus capitis
Rectus capitis anterior

4. Rectus capitis lateralis
Sternocleidomastoid
Scalene
Platysma

5. Longissimus capitis
Oblique capitis superior
Rectus capitis posterior
Semispinalis capitis
Splenius capitis
Trapezius

6. Location:
Anterior to anterior Surface of Vertebral Column.
It is Deep Prevertebral muscle of neck.
Origin:
Transverse processes of vertebrae C3-C6.
Insertion:
Basilar part of occipital bone.
Nerve Supply:
Ventral primary rami of spinal nerves C1-C3.
Action:
Flexes the head.

7. Location:
Deep to the longus capitis .
It is Deep Prevertebral muscle of neck.
Origin:
Lateral mass and transverse process of the atlas.
Insertion:
Basilar part of occipital bone.
Nerve Supply:
Ventral primary rami of spinal nerves C1-C2.
Action:
Flexes the head.

9. Location:
Just lateral to rectus capitis anterior .
It is Deep Prevertebral muscle of neck.
Origin:
Transverse process of atlas.
Insertion:
Jugular process of occipital bone.
Nerve Supply:
Ventral primary rami of spinal nerves C1-C2.
Action:
Blends head to one side.

10. Location:
Bisects the lateral aspect of the neck.
Origin:
Lateral head: medial one third of clavicle;
Medial head: manubrium sterni.
Insertion:
Mastoid process of temporal bone and
lateral half of superior nuchal line.
Nerve Supply:
Accessory nerve and C2, C3 (proprioception)
Action:
Unilaterally: approximates ear of the same side to shoulder.
Bilaterally: Flexes the head.
In unison with its counterpart: tips head back, raising the chin

11. Location:
Just deep to the clavicular head of the sternocleidomastoid
Origin:
Transverse processes of vertebrae C3–C6 .
Insertion:
Ridge and the scalene tubercle of the first rib.
Nerve Supply:
Ventral primary rami of spinal nerves C4-C6.
Action:
Function in respiration by lifting the thoracic cage.
If thoracic cage is fixed, they flex cervical vertebral column to
one side or bend it anteriorly when acting in concert

12. Location:
Lateral to the anterior scalene.
Origin:
Transverse processes of vertebrae C2–C7 .
Insertion:
First rib, between tubercle and groove for subclavian artery.
Nerve Supply:
Ventral primary rami of spinal nerves C3-C8.
Action:
Function in respiration by lifting the thoracic cage.
If thoracic cage is fixed, they flex cervical vertebral column to
one side or bend it anteriorly when acting in concert

13. Location:
Deep and lateral to the middle scalene.
Origin:
Transverse processes of vertebrae C4–C6 .
Insertion:
Outer surface of second rib.
Nerve Supply:
Ventral primary rami of spinal nerves C5-C7.
Action:
Function in respiration by lifting the thoracic cage.
If thoracic cage is fixed, they flex cervical vertebral column to
one side or bend it anteriorly when acting in concert

14. Location:
Neck and chin
Origin:
Pectoral and deltoid fascia
Insertion:
Inferior border of body of mandible, skin of face .
Nerve Supply:
Cervical.
Action:
Depresses mandible, corner of mouth, and lower lip

16. Location:
Medial to back of neck to the angle of upper few rib.
Origin:
Transverse processes of T1–T5 and
articular processes of vertebrae C4–C7.
Insertion:
Posterior aspect of mastoid process of temporal bone.
Nerve Supply:
Dorsal primary rami of cervical nerves.
Action:
Extends and inclines head laterally.

17. Location:
Deep to semispinalis capitis
Origin:
Transverse process of atlas.
Insertion:
Inferior to the superior nuchal line of the occipital bone .
Nerve Supply:
Dorsal primary ramus of suboccipital nerve (C1).
Action:
Pulls head back and, acting unilaterally tilts it to one side.

18. Location:
Deep to semispinalis capitis and inferior to oblique capitis superior
Origin:
Spinous process of axis .
Insertion:
Transverse process of the atlas.
Nerve Supply:
Dorsal primary ramus of suboccipital nerve (C1).
Action:
Rotates atlanto-axis joint to turn the face laterally.

19. Location:
Medial to the obliquus capitis superior.
Origin:
Spine of the axis, Tubercle of the posterior arch of the atlas.
Insertion:
Below and on the inferior nuchal line of the occipital bone .
Nerve Supply:
Dorsal primary ramus of suboccipital nerve (C1).
Action:
Draws the head back and turns the face laterally.

20. Location:
Deep to the splenius capitis i.e. deep to trapezius.
Origin:
Transverse processes of vertebrae C7–T6 and
articular processes of vertebrae C4–C6
Insertion:
Occipital bone between superior and inferior nuchal lines .
Nerve Supply:
Branches of dorsal primary rami of cervical nerves .
Action:
Extends head and, acting unilaterally tilts it to one side.

21. Location:
Immediately deep to the trapezius .
Origin:
Ligamentum nuchae; spinous processes of vertebrae C7–T4
Insertion:
Mastoid process of temporal bone and lateral 1⁄3 of superior
nuchal line of occipital bone
Nerve Supply:
Dorsal primary rami of middle cervical nerves.
Action:
Pulls head back and rotates .

22. Location:
Most superficial layer covering the back of the neck and upper back
Origin:
External occipital protuberance, superior nuchal line,
ligamentum nuchae, and spinous processes of C7–T12
Insertion:
Lateral 1⁄3 of the clavicle; acromion, spine, and tubercle of
the spine of the scapula
Nerve Supply:
Accessory nerve and ventral primary rami of C3, C4 (proprioception)
Action:
Most of its action is on shoulder in suspending, squaring, shrugging,
& pulling it in. It is also a rotator of the scapula. Fixing the
shoulder, it assists in pulling the head posteriorly and laterally