{"id":2111,"date":"2020-09-07T09:39:57","date_gmt":"2020-09-07T09:39:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/meddists.com\/learn\/pre-clinical\/anatomy\/head-and-neck\/neck\/muscles\/superficial-neck-muscles\/"},"modified":"2021-10-19T08:49:52","modified_gmt":"2021-10-19T06:49:52","slug":"superficial-neck-muscles","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/meddists.com\/learn\/pre-clinical\/anatomy\/skull-head-and-neck\/neck\/muscles\/superficial-neck-muscles\/","title":{"rendered":"Superficial neck muscles"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><div class=\"intro\">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.<\/div><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator\"\/>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/meddists.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/scm-trapezius.png\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Superficial neck muscles\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"852\" src=\"https:\/\/meddists.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/scm-trapezius-1024x852.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2725\" srcset=\"https:\/\/meddists.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/scm-trapezius-1024x852.png 1024w, https:\/\/meddists.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/scm-trapezius-300x250.png 300w, https:\/\/meddists.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/scm-trapezius-768x639.png 768w, https:\/\/meddists.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/scm-trapezius.png 1299w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><figcaption><strong>Figure 1. Sternocleidomastoid and trapezius muscles<\/strong> (Credit: OpenStax, CC BY-SA 4.0)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Right as we remove the skin, connective tissue, and fasciae from the cadaver, we\u2019ll see the two most prominent muscles of the neck \u2014 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:<\/p>\n\n\n<span class=\"block-heading\" id=\"header_1\">\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" class=\"wp-block-heading\" class=\"title_collection title1\">Sternocleidomastoid (SCM)<\/h4>\n<\/span><span class=\"block-content\" id=\"contents_1\">\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The SCM is the most superficial and prominent of the anterolateral neck muscles. It is a double-headed muscle enclosed within the&nbsp;<strong>investing layer&nbsp;of the&nbsp;deep fascia of the neck<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>The SCM crosses obliquely from the midline towards the lateral sides of the head.<\/li><li>As its name suggests, the sternocleidomastoid spans from the sternum (sterno-) and clavicle (-cleido-), and mastoid process of the temporal bone (-mastoid).<\/li><li>It allows:<ul><li>Unilateral contraction (only one SCM contracts): Rotation and tilting the head to that side<\/li><li>Bilateral contraction (both SCM contract): Extension (\u201clooking up\u201d), and flexion (\u201clooking down\u201d)<\/li><\/ul><\/li><li>Together with the trapezius, the SCM is innervated by the spinal accessory nerve (CN XI).<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n<\/span><span class=\"block-heading\" id=\"header_2\">\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" class=\"wp-block-heading\" class=\"title_collection title1\">Trapezius<\/h4>\n<\/span><span class=\"block-content\" id=\"contents_2\">\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The trapezius is a pair of triangular muscles located over the upper back and nuchal region of the neck, together forming a diamond shape.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Same as with the SCM, the trapezius is enclosed within the investing layer of the deep fascia of the neck. It can be split into three parts depending on the orientation of the muscle fibers (<strong>descending<\/strong>,&nbsp;<strong>transverse,<\/strong>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<strong>ascending<\/strong>, shown in figure 2).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>The trapezius muscle allows:<ul><li>Elevation of the scapula and arm (descending part)<\/li><li>Retraction of the scapula (transverse part)<\/li><li>Rotation and depression of the scapula (ascending part)<\/li><\/ul><\/li><li>It originates from 5 points:<ul><li>Medial third of the superior nuchal line<\/li><li>External occipital protuberance<\/li><li>Nuchal ligament<\/li><li>Spinous processes of C7-T12 vertebra<\/li><li>Lumbar and sacral spinous processes<\/li><\/ul><\/li><li>It inserts onto:<ul><li>Lateral third of the clavicle<\/li><li>Acromion<\/li><li>Spine of the scapula<\/li><\/ul><\/li><li>Together with the SCM, the trapezius is innervated by the spinal accessory nerve (CN XI).<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/meddists.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/trapezius.png\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Superficial neck muscles\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/meddists.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/trapezius-1024x1024.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2722\" srcset=\"https:\/\/meddists.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/trapezius-1024x1024.png 1024w, https:\/\/meddists.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/trapezius-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/meddists.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/trapezius-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/meddists.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/trapezius-768x768.png 768w, https:\/\/meddists.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/trapezius-1536x1536.png 1536w, https:\/\/meddists.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/trapezius.png 1600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><figcaption><strong>Figure 2. Parts of the trapezius muscle<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n<\/span><span class=\"block-heading\" id=\"header_3\">\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" class=\"wp-block-heading\" class=\"title_collection title1\">Platysma<\/h4>\n<\/span><span class=\"block-content\" id=\"contents_3\">\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The <strong>platysma <\/strong>is a superficial sheath of muscle embedded within the subcutaneous tissue of the neck. It is often described as a part of the facial expression muscles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The platysma of each side extends from the upper chest of each side upwards, leaving a triangular uncovered area at the midline of the neck, before merging with each other as they reach and insert above the mandible, with some fibers joining the orbicularis oris muscle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>The platysma depresses the corners of the mouth and can be easily visualized by tensing the neck.<\/li><li>It is innervated by the cervical branch of the facial nerve.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/meddists.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/image.png\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Superficial neck muscles\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"747\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/meddists.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/image-747x1024.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1553\" srcset=\"https:\/\/meddists.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/image-747x1024.png 747w, https:\/\/meddists.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/image-219x300.png 219w, https:\/\/meddists.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/image-768x1053.png 768w, https:\/\/meddists.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/image.png 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 747px) 100vw, 747px\" \/><\/a><figcaption><strong>Figure 3. The platysma muscle<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/span><div id=\"the_titles\" style=\"display:none;\"><h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Sternocleidomastoid (SCM)<\/h4><h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Trapezius<\/h4><h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Platysma<\/h4><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Right as we remove the skin, connective tissue, and fasciae from the cadaver, we\u2019ll see the two most prominent muscles of the neck \u2014 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 [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":1165,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-2111","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.8 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Superficial neck muscles &#8211; Meddists<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/meddists.com\/learn\/pre-clinical\/anatomy\/skull-head-and-neck\/neck\/muscles\/superficial-neck-muscles\/\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"3 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/meddists.com\\\/learn\\\/pre-clinical\\\/anatomy\\\/skull-head-and-neck\\\/neck\\\/muscles\\\/superficial-neck-muscles\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/meddists.com\\\/learn\\\/pre-clinical\\\/anatomy\\\/skull-head-and-neck\\\/neck\\\/muscles\\\/superficial-neck-muscles\\\/\",\"name\":\"Superficial neck muscles &#8211; 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