Muscle
Origin
Insertion
Action
Temporalis
Temporal fossa and
fascia
Coronoid process and
ramus of mandible
Elevates and retracts
mandible
Masseter
Inferior aspect of
zygomatic arch
Lateral aspect of
coronoid process and
ramus of mandible
Elevates mandible;
assists in protraction of
mandible
SCM
Sternal head: anterior
surface of manubrium
of sternum
Clavicular head: medial
one third of clavicle
Mastoid process of
temporal bone and
superior nuchal line of
occipital bone
Flexes and laterally
flexes neck; rotates
head
Medial Pterygoid
Medial surface of
lateral pterygoid plate
of sphenoid bone,
maxillary tuberosity,
and pyramidal process
of palatine bone
Medial surface of
ramus and angle of the
mandible
Laterally moves and
protracts mandible
Lateral Pterygoid
Superior head:
infratemporal surface
and infratemporal crest
of greater wing of
sphenoid bone
Inferior head: lateral
surface of lateral
pterygoid plate of
sphenoid bone
Neck of mandible
Laterally moves and
protracts mandible
Anterior Scalene
Anterior tubercles of
transverse processes of
C3-C6 vertebrae
Scalene tubercle of first
rib
Flexes, rotates, and
laterally flexes neck;
elevates first rib
Middle Scalene
Transverse processes of Superior surface of first
C2-C7 vertebrae
rib
Laterally flexes neck;
elevates first rib
Posterior Scalene
Posterior tubercles of
transverse processes of
C4-C6 vertebrae
External surface of
second rib
Laterally flexes neck;
elevates second rib
Trapezius - Upper
External occipital
protuberance and
superior nuchal line of
occipital bone, nuchal
ligament, spinous
Posterior aspect of
lateral one third of
clavicle, acromion of
scapula
Elevates, retracts, and
upwardly rotates the
pectoral (shoulder)
girdle at
acromioclavicular and
process of C7 vertebra
sternoclavicular joints;
extends and laterally
flexes head and neck
Trapezius - Middle
Spinous processes of
C7-T4 vertebrae
Acromion of scapula,
lateral end of spine of
scapula
Retracts the pectoral
(shoulder) girdle at
acromioclavicular and
sternoclavicular joints
Trapezius - Lower
Spinous processes of
T5-T12 vertebrae
Medial end of spine of
scapula
Depresses, retracts,
and upwardly rotates
the pectoral (shoulder)
girdle at
acromioclavicular and
sternoclavicular joints
Levator Scapulae
Transverse processes of
C1-C2 vertebrae,
posterior tubercles of
transverse processes of
C3-C4 vertebrae
Superior angle of
scapula, medial border
of scapula superior to
spine of scapula
Elevates and
downwardly rotates
pectoral (shoulder)
girdle at
acromioclavicular and
sternoclavicular joints;
extends and laterally
flexes neck at cervical
vertebral joints
Internal Intercostals
Inferior borders of 1st
to 11th ribs and their
adjacent costal
cartilages
Superior borders of ribs
and costal cartilages
immediately below
origin sites
Depress ribs at their
costovertebral joints;
provide structural
support to intercostal
spaces
External Intercostals
Inferior borders of 1st
to 11th ribs
Superior borders of ribs
immediately below
origin sites
Elevate ribs at their
costovertebral joints;
provide structural
support to intercostal
spaces
Anterior Digastric
Digastric fossa of
mandible
Intermediate tendon of
digastric muscle
Digastric branch of
nerve to mylohyoid
muscle (CN V3)
Posterior Digastric
Mastoid notch of
temporal bone
Intermediate tendon of
digastric muscle
Depresses mandible;
elevates hyoid bone
R.C.P. Major
Spinous process of axis
(C2)
Inferior nuchal line of
occipital bone
Rotates and extends
head.
R.C.P. Minor
Posterior arch of atlas
(C1)
Inferior nuchal line of
occipital bone and
adjacent area
Extends head
O.C. Superior
Transverse process of
atlas (C1)
Posterior aspect of
occipital bone
Laterally flexes and
extends head
O.C. Inferior
Spinous process of axis
(C2)
Transverse process of
atlas (C1)
Rotates head
Longus Capitis
Anterior tubercles of
transverse processes of
C3-C6 vertebrae
Basilar part of occipital
bone
Flexes head
Longus Colli/Cervicis
Anterior aspects of C3T3 vertebrae
Anterior aspects of C1C6 vertebrae
Flexes and rotates neck
at cervical vertebral
joints
Semispinalis Capitis
Superior articular
processes of C4-C7
vertebrae; transverse
processes of T1-T6
vertebrae
Area located between
superior and inferior
nuchal lines of occipital
bone
Extends and rotates the
head
Semispinalis Cervicis
Transverse processes of Spinous processes of
T1-T6 vertebrae
C2-C5 vertebrae
Bones/bony landmarks
Extends and rotates the
neck at cervical
vertebral joints
Structures that attach
C2
Middle scalene, semispinalis, suboccipital muscles
excluding O.C. superior
C7
Semispinalis capitis, middle scalene, upper and
middle trapezius
Cervical TP
Levator scapulae, deep neck flexors, superior and
inferior obliquus capitis, middle scalene
External Occipital Protuberance
Upper trap
Zygomatic arch
Masseter
Mandible (angle, ramus, condyle)
Temporalis, masseter, SCM, L. and M. pterygoid,
anterior digastric
Acromion
Upper and middle trap
Clavicle (AC/SC)
Upper trap, SCM
1st rib
Anterior and middle scalene
Spine of the Scapula
Middle and lower trap
Superior angle of Scapula
Levator scapulae
T1
Semispinalis cervicis and capitis
T2
Lower trap, semispinalis cervicis and capitis
T7
Lower trap