The superficial neck muscles are those muscles closest to the surface. They provide the neck with its bulky contour and are easily palpable. They include the platysma, trapezius, and sternocleidomastoid muscles.
Right as we remove the skin, connective tissue, and fasciae from the cadaver, we’ll see the two most prominent muscles of the neck — the sternocleidomastoid, and the trapezius muscles. These muscles are commonly discussed during exams since they seem so straightforward that students tend to skip them altogether:
Sternocleidomastoid (SCM)
The SCM is the most superficial and prominent of the anterolateral neck muscles. It is a double-headed muscle enclosed within the investing layer of