Splenius capitis muscle

Splenius capitis muscle
Muscles connecting the upper extremity to the vertebral column. (Splenius capitis et cervicis labeled at upper right.)
Section of the neck at about the level of the sixth cervical vertebra. Showing the arrangement of the fascia coli. (Splenius capitis labeled at bottom right.)
Latin	musculus splenius capitis
Gray's	subject #115 397
Origin	Ligamentum nuchae, spinous process of C7-T6
Insertion	Mastoid process of temporal and occipital bone
Artery
Nerve	C3, C4
Actions	Extend, rotate, and laterally flex the head

The splenius capitis A broad, straplike muscle in the back of the neck. It connects the base of the skull to the vertebrae in the neck and upper thorax.

Origin, insertion, and Innervation

It arises from the lower half of the ligamentum nuchæ, from the spinous process of the seventh cervical vertebra, and from the spinous processes of the upper three or four thoracic vertebræ.

The fibers of the muscle are directed upward and lateralward and are inserted, under cover of the Sternocleidomastoideus, into the mastoid process of the temporal bone, and into the rough surface on the occipital bone just below the lateral third of the superior nuchal line.

The Splenius Capitis muscle is innervated by the dorsal rami of C1-T1.

Function

The splenius muscle is a prime mover for head extension. The splenius capitis can also rotate the head by activation of only one side.

Etymology

The name derives from the Greek word "spléníon," which means plaster or patch.

Additional images

Occipital bone. Outer surface.

Left temporal bone. Outer surface.

Muscles of the neck. Lateral view.

External links

• LUC spca
• SUNY Figs 01:03-01 - "Superficial layer of the extrinsic muscles of the back."
• SUNY Figs 01:05-01 - "Intermediate layer of the extrinsic muscles of the back, deep muscles."
• SUNY Figs 24:01-02 - "Identification of the muscles associated with the posterolateral triangle."
• Splenius+capitis at eMedicine Dictionary
• PTCentral

This article was originally based on an entry from a public domain edition of Gray's Anatomy. As such, some of the information contained herein may be outdated.

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