Splenius capitis muscle

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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
Action: Extend, rotate, and laterally flex the head
Dorlands
/Elsevier
m_22/12550912

The splenius capitis is a muscle of the neck.

Contents

[edit] Origin, insertion, and Innervation

It arises from the lower half of the ligamentum nuchæ, from the spinousial 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-C8.

[edit] 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.

[edit] Etymology

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

[edit] Additional images

[edit] External links

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 As such, some of the information contained herein may be outdated. Please edit the article if this is the case, and feel free to remove this notice when it is no longer relevant.