Table of muscles of the human body: Neck

Scheme of muscles of neck (left side, platysma muscle dissected)

This article lists the muscles found in the human neck.

Muscles of the human body: Overview
Head  |  Neck  |  Torso  |  Upper limbs  |  Lower limbs

Legend

quadriceps femoris

rectus femoris

vastus lateralis

vastus intermedius

vastus medialis

Example of formatting used in tables to denote muscles and muscle groups.

The following tables of muscles have seven columns:

• Muscle, simply the name of the muscle
• Origin, the fixed attachment point of one end of the muscle that does not move during a muscle contraction (usually a bone)
• Insertion, the opposite attachment point, which does move when the muscle contracts (usually a bone)
• Artery, the main vessel that feeds blood to the muscle
• Innervation, the main nerve that supplies motor control to the muscle
• Action, the visible result of the muscle contraction/relaxation (see biomechanics and human kinetics for more)
• Antagonist, a muscle with the equal but opposite action

Often, a muscle is divided into other muscles; for example, the quadriceps femoris muscle is further subdivided into the rectus femoris, vastus lateralis, vastus intermedius and vastus medialis. In these cases, the name of the muscle group is italicized and the component muscles are indented. An example appears to the right.

For more information on many of the terms used within these tables, see anatomical terms of location, anatomical terms of motion, medical terminology, list of human anatomical features and outline of human anatomy.

Cervical

Muscle	Origin	Insertion	Artery	Nerve	Action	Antagonist
platysma	inferior clavicle and fascia of chest	mandible		cervical branch of the facial nerve (CN VII)	Draws the corners of the mouth inferiorly and widens it (as in expressions of sadness and fright). Also draws the skin of the neck superiorly when teeth are clenched	Masseter, Temporalis
sternocleidomastoid	manubrium sterni, medial portion of the clavicle	mastoid process of the temporal bone, superior nuchal line	occipital artery and the superior thyroid artery	motor: accessory nerve sensory: cervical plexus	Acting alone, tilts head to its own side and rotates it so the face is turned towards the opposite side. Acting together, flexes the neck, raises the sternum and assists in forced inspiration. ||

Suprahyoid

Muscle	Origin	Insertion	Artery	Nerve	Action	Antagonist
digastric	anterior belly - digastric fossa (mandible); posterior belly - mastoid process of temporal bone	Intermediate tendon (hyoid bone)		anterior belly - mandibular division of the trigeminal (CN V) via the mylohyoid nerve; posterior belly - facial nerve (CN VII)	Opens the jaw when the masseter and the temporalis are relaxed.
stylohyoid	styloid process (temporal)	greater cornu of hyoid bone		facial nerve (CN VII)	Elevate the hyoid during swallowing
mylohyoid	mylohyoid line (mandible)	median raphé	mylohyoid branch of inferior alveolar artery	mylohyoid nerve, from inferior alveolar branch of mandibular nerve [V3]	Raises oral cavity floor, elevates hyoid, depresses mandible
geniohyoid	symphysis menti	hyoid bone		C1 via hypoglossal nerve	carry hyoid bone and the tongue upward during deglutition

Infrahyoid/Strap

Muscle	Origin	Insertion	Artery	Nerve	Action	Antagonist
sternohyoid	manubrium of sternum	hyoid bone		ansa cervicalis	depress hyoid bone
sternothyroid	manubrium	thyroid cartilage		ansa cervicalis	Elevates larynx, may slightly depress hyoid bone
thyrohyoid	thyroid cartilage	hyoid bone		first cervical nerve	depress hyoid bone
omohyoid	upper border of the scapula	hyoid bone		ansa cervicalis	Depresses the larynx and hyoid bone. Carries hyoid bone backward and to the side

Vertebral

Anterior

Muscle	Origin	Insertion	Artery	Nerve	Action	Antagonist
longus colli	Transverse processes of C-3 - C-6	Inferior surface of the occipital bone		C2, C3, C4, C5, C6	Flexes the neck and head
longus capitis	anterior tubercles of the transverse processes of the third, fourth, fifth, and sixth cervical vertebrae	basilar part of the occipital bone		C1, C2, C3/C4	flexion of neck at atlanto-occipital joint
rectus capitis anterior	atlas	occipital bone		C1	flexion of neck at atlanto-occipital joint
rectus capitis lateralis	upper surface of the transverse process of the atlas	under surface of the jugular process of the occipital bone		C1

Lateral

Muscle	Origin	Insertion	Artery	Nerve	Action	Antagonist
scalene muscles	cervical vertebrae (C2-C7)	first and second ribs	ascending cervical artery (branch of inferior thyroid artery)	cervical nerves (C3, C4, C5, C6, C7	elevation of ribs I&II
anterior	C3-C6	first rib	ascending cervical artery (branch of inferior thyroid artery)	ventral ramus of C5, C6	When the neck is fixed, elevates the first rib to aid in breathing or when the rib is fixed, bends the neck forward and sideways and rotates it to the opposite side
medius	C2-C6	first rib	ascending cervical artery (branch of inferior thyroid artery)	ventral rami of the third to eighth cervical spinal nerves	Elevate 1st rib, rotate the neck to the opposite side
posterior	transverse processes of C4 - C6	2nd rib	ascending cervical artery, superficial cervical artery	C6, C7, C8	Elevate 2nd rib, tilt the neck to the same side

Muscles of the human body: Overview
Head  |  Neck  |  Torso  |  Upper limbs  |  Lower limbs

Notes

General references

• Gosling, J.A.; Harris, P.F.; Humpherson, J.R.; Whitmore, I.; Willan, P.L.T. (2008). Human Anatomy: Color Atlas and Textbook. phot. by A.L. Bentley (5th ed.). Philadelphia: Mosby. ISBN 978-0-7234-3451-1. 
• http://www.meddean.luc.edu/lumen/MedEd/GrossAnatomy/dissector/muscles/muscles.html
• http://www.ptcentral.com/muscles/
• http://www.rad.washington.edu/atlas2/

External links

• Tutorial & Quizzes on Skeletal Muscular Anatomy