Neck muscles

overview

The short neck muscles belong to the so-called autochthonous back muscles and are located to the right and left of the vertebral bodies of the spine. Their task is to maintain the vertebral bodies and to move the spine.
The short muscles in the neck area are also stabilizing, but also make a significant contribution to the movements in the neck and head area:

• Especially tilting your head forward and
• this muscle group is used to put the head back (reclining).
• The short neck muscles also play a key role in lateral head movements.

The short neck muscles include the rectus capitis posterior minor muscle, the rectus capitis posterior major muscle, the superior obliquus capitis muscle, and the inferior obliquus capitis muscle.

Illustration of the neck muscles

Short neck muscles
Subboccipital muscles

1. Upper oblique head muscle
   Obliquus muscle
   superior capitis
2. Lower oblique head muscle
   M. obliquus capitis inferior
3. Big rear
   head straight muscle -
   Rectus capitis muscle
   posterior major
4. Small rear
   head straight muscle -
   Rectus capitis muscle
   posterior minor
5. Lower neckline -
   Linea nuchalis inferior
6. Occiput -
   Occipital bone
7. Suboccipital nerve
8. Mastoid process -
   Mastoid process
9. Transverse process -
   Transverse process
10. Rear atlas hump -
    Posterior tubercle
11. Spinous process -
    Spinous process
12. Vertebral artery -
    Vertebral artery
13. Second cervical vertebra
    (Lathe operator) -
    Axis
14. First cervical vertebra
    (Carrier) -
    Atlas
15. Lower jaw - Mandible

You can find an overview of all Dr-Gumpert images at: medical illustrations

Muscles of the short neck muscles

• Rectus capitis posterior minor muscle
  This muscle originates in the uppermost vertebral body of the spine, the so-called Atlas, and pulls fan-shaped upwards towards the skull. On a bony structure on the skull (Linea nuchae inferior) he starts.
  His task lies mainly in Lifting the head bent forward.
  
  
• Posterior major rectus capitis muscle
  This muscle attaches to second cervical vertebra, on the so-called processus spinosus. This bony protrusion is present on every vertebral body. The tip of this point of the bone points to you with your back turned towards you. That muscle too pulls headward on the former Rectus capitis muscle posterior minor and attaches this muscle to the Linea nuchea inferior on.
  This muscle is mostly for that lateral head movements (jointly with M. sternocleidomastoideus) responsible.
  
  
• Musculus obliquus capitis superior
  This muscle originates from the uppermost vertebral body (Atlas) and here on the transverse processes (processus transversus). For this reason he pulls completely far upwards and continues on the bony Back of the head (os occipitale). It forms the outer boundary of the short neck muscles on both sides.
  It is especially for that Reclining the head responsible (putting the head backwards). The muscle also has a small share in the left and right rotation of the head.
  
  
• Inferior obliquus capitis muscle
  This muscle pulls from the second cervical vertebra, and here again from the backward-pointing spinous process, to the Transverse process of the first vertebral bodywhere it is attached. It is therefore the only muscle in the short neck muscles, the no direct connection with the bony skull and which runs exclusively in the area of ​​the cervical spine.
  Above all, it helps the sternocleidomastoid muscle lateral head movement.

How the short neck muscles work

The short neck muscles work in complex way in the Rotary motion and the Reclination of the head together.
So the head movement results from one Interaction of all muscles. The muscles rectus capitis posterior major and obliquus capitis superior and obliquus capitis inferior together form a anatomical triangle (so-called trigonum a. vertebralis). In this area the Vertebral artery, which is significantly involved in the blood supply to the brain. It's between the muscles lying on the uppermost vertebral body findable.

Nerve tracts in the area of ​​the neck muscles

Nerve tracts also run in the area between the short neck muscles.
The anatomical position of the muscles allows one Finding certain nerve tracts:
Of the first cervical nerve lies between mentioned above artery (A. vertebralis) and the Atlas arch. The nerve gives a certain branch (Ramus dorsalis) from. This reaches the neck muscles and supplies them.

Anatomical deviations

Most people have this anatomical situation.
However, there are also numerous deviations and exceptions:

• In some people, for example, the capitis posterior minor muscle may be completely absent or very small on one side.
• The rectus capitis posterior minor muscle is rarely absent.
• In some cases, however, this muscle is divided into two parts.

Have mentioned variations of the anatomical conditions usually no influence on the feasible agility Of the head. If there is a lack of certain muscles, it is from birth other muscles or muscle groups the corresponding head movements and holding tasks take over compensatory.
In very rare exceptions it happens that patients suffer from the absence or division of one or more muscles Movement problems in everyday life to have. Furthermore, this rarely has an influence on the stability in the neck area.
In some cases there may be a lack of a muscle or muscle group leading to a faster fatigue and to increase Tension leads.