Splenius cervicis muscle
| Splenius cervicis muscle | |
|---|---|
![]() Muscles connecting the upper extremity to the vertebral column. (Splenius capitis et cervicis labeled at upper right, at neck.)  | |
| Details | |
| Origin | Spinous processes of T3-T6 | 
| Insertion | Transverse processes of C1-C3 | 
| Artery | Transverse cervical artery and occipital artery | 
| Nerve | Posterior rami of the lower Cervical spinal nerves | 
| Actions | Bilaterally: Extend the head and neck, Unilaterally: Lateral flexion to the same side, Rotation to the same side. | 
| Identifiers | |
| Latin | musculus splenius cervicis | 
| TA98 | A04.3.02.104 | 
| TA2 | 2274 | 
| FMA | 22681 | 
| Anatomical terms of muscle | |
The splenius cervicis (/ˈspliːniəs sərˈvaɪsɪs/) (also known as the splenius colli, /- ˈkɒlaɪ/) is a muscle in the back of the neck. It arises by a narrow tendinous band from the spinous processes of the third to the sixth thoracic vertebrae; it is inserted, by tendinous fasciculi, into the posterior tubercles of the transverse processes of the upper two or three cervical vertebrae.
Its name is based on the Greek word σπληνίον, splenion (meaning a bandage) and the Latin word cervix (meaning a neck).[1] The word collum also refers to the neck in Latin.[1]
The function of the splenius cervicis muscle is extension of the cervical spine, rotation to the ipsilateral side and lateral flexion to the ipsilateral side.[2]
Additional images
- 
			
Position of splenius cervicis muscle (shown in red). - 
			
Lateral view. - 
			
Posterior view. - 
			
Muscles of the neck. Lateral view. - 
			
Section of the neck at the level of the sixth cervical vertebra. - 
			
Splenius and Semispinalis - 
			
Splenius 
References
 This article incorporates text in the public domain from page 397 of the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)
- ^ a b Arnold, MA; Bryce, Deborah. "Arnold's Glossary of Anatomy". The University of Sydney.
 - ^ R.T. Floyd, Manual of Structural Kinesiology, 2012, 18th Ed.
 
External links
