Muscles of the Anterior Neck, Throat
& Vertebral Column
Muscles of Swallowing
Muscles of Swallowing
The anterior portion of the neck is divided into the
suprahyoid and infrahyoid muscle groups.
Muscles of Swallowing
The anterior portion of the neck is divided into the
suprahyoid and infrahyoid muscle groups.
The suprahyoid muscles pull the hyoid bone upward and
forward causing the pharynx to widen. This also leads to the
epiglottis closing the trachea preventing choking.
Muscles of Swallowing
The anterior portion of the neck is divided into the
suprahyoid and infrahyoid muscle groups.
The suprahyoid muscles pull the hyoid bone upward and
forward causing the pharynx to widen. This also leads to the
epiglottis closing the trachea preventing choking.
The infrahyoid muscles return the hyoid bone and larynx to
their original position.
Muscles of Swallowing
The Digastric muscle consists of two bellies united by a
tendon forming a “V” shape.
Its origins are on the lower margin of the mandible (anterior
belly) and mastoid process of the temporal bone (posterior
belly). They insert on the hyoid bone.
Muscles of Swallowing
(Suprahyoid Group)
The Digastric muscle consists of two bellies united by a
tendon forming a “V” shape.
Its origins are on the lower margin of the mandible (anterior
belly) and mastoid process of the temporal bone (posterior
belly). They insert on the hyoid bone.
The action of the Digastric muscles are to open the mouth
and assist in swallowing.
Muscles of Swallowing
(Suprahyoid Group)
.
Median raphe
Anterior
Digastric belly
Posterior
belly
Stylohyoid (cut)
Thyrohyoid
Thyroid cartilage
of the larynx
Thyroid gland
Sternothyroid
(a)
Mylohyoid
Stylohyoid
Hyoid bone
Omohyoid
(superior belly)
Sternohyoid
Sternocleidomastoid
Omohyoid
(inferior belly)
Muscles of Swallowing
(Suprahyoid Group)
The Stylohyoid lies just below the angle of the jaw and
parallels the posterior Digastric muscle.
Muscles of Swallowing
(Suprahyoid Group)
The Stylohyoid lies just below the angle of the jaw and
parallels the posterior Digastric muscle.
Its origin is on the styloid process and it inserts on the hyoid
bone.
Muscles of Swallowing
(Suprahyoid Group)
The Stylohyoid lies just
below the angle of the jaw
and parallels the posterior
Digastric muscle.
Its origin is on the styloid
process and it inserts on
the hyoid bone.
It helps to elevate the
hyoid.
Muscles of Swallowing
(Suprahyoid Group)
The Mylohyoid is a flat triangular muscle and helps to form
the floor of the mouth. Its origin is on the medial surface of
the mandible and it inserts on the hyoid and median raphe.
Its action is to elevate the hyoid and floor of the mouth
during swallowing pushing food into the pharynx.
Median raphe
Anterior
Digastric belly
Posterior
belly
Stylohyoid (cut)
Thyrohyoid
Thyroid cartilage
of the larynx
Thyroid gland
Sternothyroid
(a)
Mylohyoid
Stylohyoid
Hyoid bone
Omohyoid
(superior belly)
Sternohyoid
Sternocleidomastoid
Omohyoid
(inferior belly)
Muscles of Swallowing
(Suprahyoid Group)
The Geniohyoid is a
narrow muscle that runs
with the Genioglossus
muscle medially. Its origin
is on the inner surface of
the mandible and it inserts
on the hyoid.
Its action is pull the hyoid
superiorly and anteriorly.
Tongue
Styloid process
Styloglossus
Hyoglossus
Stylohyoid
Hyoid bone
Genioglossus
Mandibular
symphysis
Geniohyoid
Thyroid cartilage
Thyrohyoid
(c)
Muscles of Swallowing
(Infrahyoid Group)
The Sternohyoid muscle is the most medial muscle of the
neck. Its origin is on the manubrium and clavicle. It inserts
on the lower margin of the hyoid.
Its action is to depress the larynx and hyoid bone if the
mandible is fixed.
Median raphe
Anterior
Digastric belly
Posterior
belly
Stylohyoid (cut)
Thyrohyoid
Thyroid cartilage
of the larynx
Thyroid gland
Sternothyroid
(a)
Mylohyoid
Stylohyoid
Hyoid bone
Omohyoid
(superior belly)
Sternohyoid
Sternocleidomastoid
Omohyoid
(inferior belly)
Muscles of Swallowing
(Infrahyoid Group)
The Sternothyroid muscle lies lateral and deep to the
Sternohyoid. Its origin is on the manubrium of the sternum
and it inserts on the thyroid cartilage.
Its action is to pull the larynx and hyoid inferiorly.
Muscles of Swallowing
(Infrahyoid Group)
Muscles of Swallowing
(Infrahyoid Group)
The Omothyroid muscle is strap like with two bellies
connected to a tendon. It is lateral to the Sternohyoid.
Its origin is on the superior surface of the scapula and it
inserts on the hyoid bone.
Its action is to depress the hyoid.
Muscles of Swallowing
(Infrahyoid Group)
Median raphe
Anterior
Digastric belly
Posterior
belly
Stylohyoid (cut)
Thyrohyoid
Thyroid cartilage
of the larynx
Thyroid gland
Sternothyroid
(a)
Mylohyoid
Stylohyoid
Hyoid bone
Omohyoid
(superior belly)
Sternohyoid
Sternocleidomastoid
Omohyoid
(inferior belly)
Muscles of Swallowing
(Infrahyoid Group)
The Thyrohyoid muscle appears as a continuation of the
Sternohyoid. Its origin is on the thyroid cartilage and it
inserts on the hyoid.
Its action is to depress the hyoid bone or elevates the larynx
is the hyoid is fixed..
Median raphe
Anterior
Digastric belly
Posterior
belly
Stylohyoid (cut)
Thyrohyoid
Thyroid cartilage
of the larynx
Thyroid gland
Sternothyroid
(a)
Mylohyoid
Stylohyoid
Hyoid bone
Omohyoid
(superior belly)
Sternohyoid
Sternocleidomastoid
Omohyoid
(inferior belly)
Sternocleidomastoid
(cut)
(c)
Platysma (cut)
Internal jugular vein
Omohyoid
Sternohyoid
Sternothyroid
Sternocleidomastoid
Pectoralis major
Muscles of the Neck and Vertebral
Column
The muscles which move the head originate from the axial
skeleton.
The major prime flexors are the Sternocleidomastoid
muscles with help from the supra hyoid and infrahyoid
muscle groups.
The muscles of the back are deep muscles, the largest group
being the erector spinae.
Muscles of the Neck and Vertebral
Column
The Sternocleidomastoid muscle is a prominent, two
headed muscle that lies deep to the Platysma. It serves as the
anatomical marker between the anterior and posterior
portions of the neck.
Its origins are on the sternum and clavicle and its insertion is
on the mastoid.
It fixes and laterally rotates the head
Muscles of the Neck and Vertebral
Column
Spasms of the
Sternocleidomastoid
muscle cause toricollis
(wryneck) also known as a
stiff neck.
1st cervical
vertebra
Sternocleidomastoid
(a) Anterior
Base of
occipital bone
Mastoid
process
Middle
scalene
Anterior
scalene
Posterior
scalene
Muscles of the Neck and Vertebral
Column
The Scalenes muscle group are located more laterally on
the neck. They are three muscles that run deep to the
Sternocleidomastoid muscle.
Their origin is on the transverse processes of the cervical
vertebrae and the insert anterolaterally on the first two ribs.
Their action is to elevate the first two ribs and flex and to
rotate the neck.
Muscles of the Neck and Vertebral
Column
Muscles of the Neck and Vertebral
Column
Scalenes pain develop trigger points (TPs) that can cause
pain to refer into the chest, to the medial border of the
scapula, into the shoulder, down the posterior and lateral
sides of the arm to the thumb and index finger.
The results cause a compression or irritation to blood vessels
and nerves running through them.
This can cause symptoms such as paresthesia, anesthesia,
coldness, claudication, and lymphedema in the involved
extremity.
1st cervical
vertebra
Sternocleidomastoid
(a) Anterior
Base of
occipital bone
Mastoid
process
Middle
scalene
Anterior
scalene
Posterior
scalene
Muscles of the Neck and Vertebral
Column
The Splenius muscle is a two part, superficial muscle that
extend from the upper thoracic vertebrae to the skull. It is
some times called the “bandage muscle” because it covers the
deeper muscles of the neck.
It originates on the ligamentum nuchae (a strong elastic
ligament on the vertebrae) and inserts on the mastoid
process and occipital bone of the skull.
It hyper extends the head
.
Mastoid process
Splenius
capitis
Spinous
processes
of the
vertebrae
Splenius
cervicis
(b) Posterior
Muscles of the Neck and Vertebral
Column
The Erector spinae are the prime movers for back
extension. This is a complex muscle group with three
divisions. They are
 The iliocostalis
 The longissimus
 The spinalis
Muscles of the Neck and Vertebral
Column
Together Erector spinae provide resistance when flexion is
occurring.
The process of extension occur with the hamstrings and
gluteal muscles then the erector spinae.
Muscles of the Neck and Vertebral
Column
The Iliocostalis is the most lateral group, it originates on
the iliac crest and inferior six ribs. It inserts on the angles of
the rigs and transverse processes of the cervical vertebrae. Its
action is to extend and laterally flex the vertebral column.
Muscles of the Neck and Vertebral
Column
Longissimus capitis
Iliocostalis cervicis
Longissimus
cervicis
Iliocostalis
thoracis
Longissimus thoracis
Spinalis thoracis
Iliocostalis
Erector Longissimus
spinae Spinalis
Iliocostalis
lumborum
External oblique
(d)
Ligamentum
nuchae
Semispinalis
capitis
Semispinalis
cervicis
Semispinalis
thoracis
Multifidus
Quadratus
lumborum
Muscles of the Neck and Vertebral
Column
The Longissimus is the intermediate group, it consists of
many muscle slips from the lumber region to the skull. It
originates on the transverse processes of the lumbar up
through the cervical vertebrae. It inserts on the transverse
processes of the thoracic and cervical vertebrae.
Its action is to extend and laterally flex the vertebral column,
the upper portion extends the head.
Muscles of the Neck and Vertebral
Column
Longissimus capitis
Iliocostalis cervicis
Longissimus
cervicis
Iliocostalis
thoracis
Longissimus thoracis
Spinalis thoracis
Iliocostalis
Erector Longissimus
spinae Spinalis
Iliocostalis
lumborum
External oblique
(d)
Ligamentum
nuchae
Semispinalis
capitis
Semispinalis
cervicis
Semispinalis
thoracis
Multifidus
Quadratus
lumborum
Muscles of the Neck and Vertebral
Column
The Spinalis group is the medial group. It originates on
the spinous processes of the lumbar thoracic vertebrae. It
inserts on the spinous processes of the thoracic and cervical
vertebrae.
Its action is to extend the vertebral column.
Muscles of the Neck and Vertebral
Column
Longissimus capitis
Iliocostalis cervicis
Longissimus
cervicis
Iliocostalis
thoracis
Longissimus thoracis
Spinalis thoracis
Iliocostalis
Erector Longissimus
spinae Spinalis
Iliocostalis
lumborum
External oblique
(d)
Ligamentum
nuchae
Semispinalis
capitis
Semispinalis
cervicis
Semispinalis
thoracis
Multifidus
Quadratus
lumborum
Muscles of the Neck and Vertebral
Column
The Semispinalis group extends from the thoracic region
to the head. It originates on the transverse processes of the
thoracic vertebrae. It inserts on the occipital bone of the
skull and on the spinous processes of the cervical vertebrae..
There are two groups the thoracis and the capitis group.
Its action is to extend the vertebral column and rotate the
head to the opposite side..
Muscles of the Neck and Vertebral
Column
Longissimus capitis
Iliocostalis cervicis
Longissimus
cervicis
Iliocostalis
thoracis
Longissimus thoracis
Spinalis thoracis
Iliocostalis
Erector Longissimus
spinae Spinalis
Iliocostalis
lumborum
External oblique
(d)
Ligamentum
nuchae
Semispinalis
capitis
Semispinalis
cervicis
Semispinalis
thoracis
Multifidus
Quadratus
lumborum
Muscles of the Neck and Vertebral
Column
The Quadratus lumborum forms the posterior part of
the abdominal wall. It originates on the iliac crest. It inserts
on the transverse processes of the lumbar vertebrae up to the
12th rib.
Its action is to flex the vertebral column laterally, assists in
maintaining an upright posture and used in forced
respiration..
Muscles of the Neck and Vertebral
Column
Longissimus capitis
Iliocostalis cervicis
Longissimus
cervicis
Iliocostalis
thoracis
Longissimus thoracis
Spinalis thoracis
Iliocostalis
Erector Longissimus
spinae Spinalis
Iliocostalis
lumborum
External oblique
(d)
Ligamentum
nuchae
Semispinalis
capitis
Semispinalis
cervicis
Semispinalis
thoracis
Multifidus
Quadratus
lumborum
Muscles of the Neck and Vertebral
Column
Stretching The Quadratus
Lumborum To Relieve
Lower Back Stiffness