There are the following borders of the neck region:

• The superior border passes through the inferior border of the mandible, temporomandibular joint, mastoid process, superior nuchal line, and the external occipital protuberance

• The inferior border passes through the jugular notch, clavicle, acromion of the scapula, and the spinous process of the C7 verteb

  

  There are several anatomical regions within the neck:

• Anterior cervical region (regio cervicalis anterior)

• Lateral cervical region (regio cervicalis lateralis)

• Posterior cervical region (regio cervicalis posterior)

• Sternocleidomastoid region (regio sternocleidomastoidea)

The muscles of the neck are located within these anatomical areas. They are divided into superficial and deep muscles.

There are two groups of the deep muscles:

• Lateral group

• Medial (prevertebral) group The lateral group includes:

• Scalenus anterior muscle (m. scalenus anterior)

  

  

  

  

  Scalenus anterior muscle
  (m. scalenus anterior)

  Origin: anterior tubercles of transverse processes of the C2-C6 vertebrae

  Insertion: tubercle of the scalenus anterior muscle on the 1st rib

  Function: when the spine is fixed, it lifts the 1st and 2nd ribs, participating in the act of inhalation; when the ribs are fixed, it flexes the cervical spine, with unilateral contraction, it flexes it in its own direction

  Innervation: cervical plexus (C5-C8)

  Blood supply: ascending artery of the neck, inferior thyroid artery

• Scalenus medius muscle (m. scalenus medius)

  

  

  

  

  Scalenus medius muscle
  (m. scalenus medius)

  Origin: anterior tubercles of transverse processes of the C2-C6 vertebrae

  Insertion: tubercle of the scalenus medius muscle on the 1st rib

  Function: when the spine is fixed, it lifts the 1st and 2nd ribs, participating in the act of inhalation; when the ribs are fixed, it flexes the cervical spine, with unilateral contraction, it flexes it in its own direction

  Innervation: cervical plexus (C3-C8)

  Blood supply: deep cervical artery, vertebral artery, transverse cervical artery

• Scalenus posterior muscle (m. scalenus posterior)

  

  

  

  

  Scalenus posterior muscle
  (m. scalenus posterior)

  Origin: anterior tubercles of transverse processes of the C4-C6 vertebrae

  Insertion: tubercle of the scalenus posterior muscle on the 2nd rib

  Function: when the spine is fixed, it lifts the 1st and 2nd ribs, participating in the act of inhalation; when the ribs are fixed, it flexes the cervical spine, with unilateral contraction, it flexes it in its own direction

  Innervation: cervical plexus (C7-C8)

  Blood supply: deep artery of the neck, transverse cervical artery, posterior intercostal artery

  The medial (prevertebral) group includes:

• Longus colli muscle (m. longus colli)

  

  

  Longus colli muscle
  (m. longus colli)

  Origin:

  Vertical part arises from the bodies of the C2-C5, Th1-Th3 vertebrae

  Superior oblique part arises from the transverse processes of the C3-C5 vertebrae

  Inferior oblique part arises from the bodies of the Th1-Th3 vertebrae

  Insertion:

  Vertical part inserts into the bodies of the C2-C4 vertebrae

  Superior oblique part inserts into the anterior tubercle of the atlas and the bodies of the underlying cervical vertebrae

  Inferior oblique part inserts into the anterior tubercles of the C5-C7 vertebrae

  Function: with a bilateral contraction, it tilts the neck anteriorly, with a unilateral contraction, it tilts the neck laterally

  Innervation: cervical plexus (C2-C6)

  Blood supply: vertebral artery, ascending artery of the neck, deep cervical artery

• Longus capitis muscle (m. longus capitis)

  

  

  Longus capitis muscle
  (m. longus capitis)

  Origin: anterior tubercles of transverse processes of the C3-C6 vertebrae

  Insertion: basilar part of the occipital bone

  Function: with a bilateral contraction, it tilts the head and neck anteriorly, with a unilateral contraction, it tilts the head and neck laterally

  Innervation: Cervical plexus (C1-C4)

  Blood supply: vertebral artery, ascending artery of the neck, deep cervical artery

• Rectus capitis anterior muscle (m. rectus capitis anterior)

  

  Rectus capitis anterior muscle
  (m. rectus capitis anterior)

  Origin: lateral part of the anterior arch of the atlas

  Insertion: basilar part of the occipital bone

  Function: tilts the head in the anterior direction

  Innervation: Cervical plexus (C1)

  Blood supply: vertebral artery, ascending pharyngeal artery

• Rectus capitis lateralis muscle (m. rectus capitis lateralis)

  

  

  Rectus capitis lateralis muscle
  (m. rectus capitis lateralis)

  Origin: transverse process of the atlas

  Insertion: lateral part of the occipital bone

  Function: tilts the head laterally

  Innervation: Cervical plexus (C1)

  Blood supply: occipital artery, vertebral artery

  Also, the so-called suboccipital muscles (mm. suboccipitales), which are sometimes classified as muscles of the back, constitute a separate group:

• Rectus capitis posterior minor muscle (m. rectus capitis posterior minor)

  

  Rectus capitis posterior minor muscle
  (m. rectus capitis posterior minor)

  Origin: posterior tubercle of the atlas

  Insertion: medial part of the inferior nuchal line

  Function: with bilateral contraction, it extends the head, with unilateral contraction, it turns the head ipsilaterally (in its own direction)

  Innervation: occipital nerve, which is a posterior branch of the spinal nerve (C1)

  Blood supply: deep cervical artery

• Rectus capitis posterior major muscle (m. rectus capitis posterior major)

  

  Rectus capitis posterior major muscle
  (m. rectus capitis posterior major)

  Origin: spinous process of the C2 vertebra (axis)

  Insertion: lateral part of the inferior nuchal line

  Function: with bilateral contraction, it extends the head, with unilateral contraction, it turns the head ipsilaterally (in its own direction)

  Innervation: occipital nerve, which is a posterior branch of the spinal nerve (C1)

  Blood supply: deep cervical artery

• Obliquus capitis inferior muscle (m. obliquus capitis inferior)

  

  Obliquus capitis inferior muscle
  (m. obliquus capitis inferior)

  Origin: spinous process of the C2 vertebra (axis)

  Insertion: transverse process of the C1 vertebra (atlas)

  Function: with bilateral contraction, it extends the head, with unilateral contraction, it turns the head ipsilaterally (in its own direction)

  Innervation: occipital nerve, which is a posterior branch of the spinal nerve (C1)

  Blood supply: deep cervical artery

• Obliquus capitis superior muscle (m. obliquus capitis superior)

Dictionary

Deep muscles of the neck

Anterior cervical region

regio cervicalis anterior

Lateral cervical region

regio cervicalis lateralis

Posterior cervical region

regio cervicalis posterior

Sternocleidomastoid region

regio sternocleidomastoidea

Scalenus anterior muscle

m. scalenus anterior

Scalenus medius muscle

m. scalenus medius

Scalenus posterior muscle

m. scalenus posterior

Longus colli muscle

m. longus colli

Longus capitis muscle

m. longus capitis

Rectus capitis anterior muscle

m. rectus capitis anterior

Rectus capitis lateralis muscle

m. rectus capitis lateralis

Suboccipital muscles

mm. suboccipitales

Rectus capitis posterior minor muscle

m. rectus capitis posterior minor

Rectus capitis posterior major muscle

m. rectus capitis posterior major

Obliquus capitis inferior muscle

m. obliquus capitis inferior

Obliquus capitis superior muscle

m. obliquus capitis superior