Skeletal Muscle Series Part 2:

Skeletal Muscles of the Neck

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Your neck contains an assembly of structures that connect your head to your trunk. It’s a complex body part composed of bones, nerves, blood vessels, lymphatic tissues, connective tissues, and muscles. Your larynx (voice box), trachea (windpipe), oesophagus, and thyroid gland are also nestled within your neck.

How do the muscles of the neck work together?

The muscles in your neck are divided into three groups: anterior, lateral, and posterior groups of neck muscles. These groups are designated in relation to your cervical spine (neck) and can contract and relax as a unit to produce a specific action or function in your neck.

The tables below provide a comprehensive* list of muscles found in the neck region. Please note: the word muscle is removed from the actual muscle names.

*Comprehensive but may not be inclusive of all the skeletal muscles found in the neck region.

ANTERIOR NECK MUSCLES
Superficial Neck Muscles Located beneath your skin
Platysma	Lowers your jawbone
Sternocleidomastoid	Moves the neck in a variety of directions (flexion, rotation, etc.)
Subclavius	Lowers the clavicle
Suprahyoids They are located above (supra-) the hyoid bone.
Digastric Mylohyoid Geniohyoid Stylohyoid	These muscles move and steady the hyoid bone when a person speaks and swallows. They also move the hyoid bone upwards
Infrahyoids They are located below (infra-) the hyoid bone.
Sternohyoid Sternothyroid	Move the voice box downwards
Thyrohyoid Omohyoid	Move the hyoid bone downwards
Scalenes
Anterior Middle Posterior	Flex your neck Elevate ribs 1 and 2 during breathing
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Muscles of the Neck

LATERAL NECK MUSCLES
Rectus capitis anterior Rectus capitis lateralis Longus capitis Longus colli	Neck flexion and rotation to the side
Levator scapulae	Moves the scapula upwards and towards the middle This muscle is partially located in the neck. It’s the reason why it’s included in this group of muscles
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POSTERIOR NECK MUSCLES
Superficial Posterior Neck
Splenius capitis Splenius cervicis	Neck extension, flexion, and rotation
Suboccipital Group
Rectus capitis posterior major Rectus capitis posterior minor Obliquus capitis superior Obliquus capitis inferior	Head extension, flexion, and rotation between the first bone of your cervical (neck) spine and the base of your skull
Transversospinalis Group
Semispinalis capitis Semispinalis cervicis Rotatores cervicis Interspinales Intertransversarii	Head extension, flexion, and rotation between the neck and thoracic spines
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Clinical Significance of a Few Selected Muscles of the Neck

Whiplash is a term referring to a neck injury brought about by a forceful bending of the neck backward then forward, or vice versa, way past its anatomical capabilities. Most of these injuries include a sudden slowing down or speeding up in a motor vehicle accident or collision. You may also see them frequently happen in contact sports such as rugby, boxing, ice hockey, etc. The injury can involve muscles of the neck and other structures therefore treatment will vary depending on which structures are involved. Muscular injuries are usually treated with an application of a cervical collar, drugs (pain relievers), physical therapy and even surgery in some cases.
Among the most common causes of a stiff neck is a muscle strain or sprain of the levator scapulae muscle. You can injure this muscle through prolonged cradling of a mobile phone between your neck and shoulder and improper support from your pillow while you sleep.

It’s a little confusing because this muscle is sometimes grouped together with the other back muscles because it attaches to your scapula, however, it originates from your cervical spine. The muscle moves your scapula (part of your back) but it is partially located at the back of your neck. When strained or sprained, the pain radiates from your upper back to your neck. For practical purposes, we have included it here since the problem manifests itself predominantly as neck pain.

Aside from medical treatment, physical therapy can prevent further injury and make you feel better and more comfortable. Acupuncture, massage, mind-body therapy (mindfulness techniques, yoga), massage (get a professional one), and chiropractic care are alternative therapies you may want to try to alleviate the pain. The research on these therapies is limited, but they work on some people with stiff necks on a case to case basis.
Torticollis or wryneck happens when your neck muscles twist and spasm beyond their anatomical capacity, causing your head to tilt. A muscle injury, infection, use of a particular medication, and arthritis of the cervical spine are common causes of wryneck A person with this condition will find it hard to bend their neck to the unaffected side. Aside from drugs and surgery, recommended additional therapies include physiotherapy and osteopathic manipulative treatments. Both therapies have their established recovery roles, especially after surgery on the sternocleidomastoid and other affected neck muscles.

Maintenance and Recovery of Your Neck Muscles

For proper maintenance and recovery of your neck muscles from pain or injury, try to observe and practice the following tips:

Neck pain, meet my new pillow. A new pillow that provides support and comfort to your neck while you sleep is a must. Find a pillow that maintains the natural curvature of your neck. You can also use a bit of common sense. If it’s not comfy, it’s not a good fit for you.
For most people, sleeping on your back is the best position. It allows your entire spine, especially your neck and lower back to rest comfortably.
Your computer screen should be at eye level. The centre of your field of view should land on the top one-third of your monitor. If not, find a way to adjust it.

Raise your mobile phone to eye level when you type a message. This avoids bending your neck. It also follows that you shouldn’t tilt your head to the side to cradle your phone when answering a call. Instead, use a headset or even wireless Bluetooth earphones.
Stretch and exercise your neck carefully. Also, try to keep a proper posture whether you’re sitting, walking, or just standing. Click here to know if you have poor posture.
If your neck pain doesn’t go away, consult with your doctor. He or she may refer you to another specialist (i.e. doctor who specialises in rehabilitation medicine or an orthopaedic surgeon) or another health expert who may be able to help.

Complementary and alternative therapy for neck pain that you can try:

TENS. TENS stands for Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation. According to an article published in the Journal of Clinical Medicine Research, TENS is effective for treatment of mild neck pain brought about by musculoskeletal disorders.
Chiropractic adjustment or spinal manipulation is a procedure in which chiropractors use a small instrument or their hands to apply a sudden but controlled force to a cervical spinal joint (bones and joints in your neck). It aims to improve neck mobility. In a study published in the Chiropractic and Manual Therapies Journal, Australian chiropractors found chiropractic care was able to effectively manage neck pain among older adults (> 70 years old).
Acupuncture has proven to be an effective supplementary form of therapy for people suffering from chronic neck pain according to an article published in the Journal of Pain.

Tai Chi is another form of therapy you can try to relieve persistent neck pain. Its beneficial effects are comparable to 12 weeks of neck exercises.

Your neck definitely does more than just attach your neck to your torso. Judging from the number of muscles attached to it, you can observe the wide variety of head and neck movements you can accomplish with your neck muscles. So learn to take care of them.