Splenius cervicis muscle

Splenius cervicis muscle
Muscles connecting the upper extremity to the vertebral column. (Splenius capitis et cervicis labeled at upper right, at neck.)
Details
OriginSpinous processes of T3-T6
InsertionTransverse processes of C1-C3
ArteryTransverse cervical artery and occipital artery
NervePosterior rami of the lower Cervical spinal nerves
ActionsBilaterally: Extend the head and neck, Unilaterally: Lateral flexion to the same side, Rotation to the same side.
Identifiers
Latinmusculus splenius cervicis
TA98A04.3.02.104
TA22274
FMA22681
Anatomical terms of muscle

The splenius cervicis (/ˈsplniəs sərˈvsɪs/) (also known as the splenius colli, /- ˈkɒl/) is a muscle in the back of the neck. It arises by a narrow tendinous band from the spinous processes of the third to the sixth thoracic vertebrae; it is inserted, by tendinous fasciculi, into the posterior tubercles of the transverse processes of the upper two or three cervical vertebrae.

Its name is based on the Greek word σπληνίον, splenion (meaning a bandage) and the Latin word cervix (meaning a neck).[1] The word collum also refers to the neck in Latin.[1]

The function of the splenius cervicis muscle is extension of the cervical spine, rotation to the ipsilateral side and lateral flexion to the ipsilateral side.[2]

  1. ^ a b Arnold, MA; Bryce, Deborah. "Arnold's Glossary of Anatomy". The University of Sydney.
  2. ^ R.T. Floyd, Manual of Structural Kinesiology, 2012, 18th Ed.