Longissimus capitis muscle
Musculus longissimus capitis
Longissimus capitis is a slender band of the deep back muscles that climbs from the upper thoracic spine to the mastoid process.
At a glance
- English
- Longissimus capitis muscle
- Latin (TA2)
- Musculus longissimus capitis
- System
- Muscle
- Region
- Neck
- Side
- Paired, left and right
About the longissimus capitis muscle
Longissimus is the middle column of the erector spinae, lying between iliocostalis laterally and spinalis medially. Its highest part, longissimus capitis, is a thin ribbon that runs up the back of the neck to the skull. It lies medial to longissimus colli and lateral to semispinalis capitis, and is covered by splenius capitis and sternocleidomastoid. An older name for it is the trachelomastoid muscle.
It begins by slender tendons from the transverse processes, roughly T1 to T5 and from the articular processes of roughly C4 to C7. Its fibres gather into a narrow belly that rises through the neck and ends on the hind edge of the temporal bone's mastoid process, just beneath splenius capitis and sternocleidomastoid. A tendinous band usually crosses the belly near its upper end.
Acting on both sides, the muscle extends the head and helps hold it upright on the neck. Acting on one side, it tilts the head towards the same shoulder and turns the face towards that side. It works with splenius capitis, semispinalis capitis and the suboccipital muscles in posture and in controlled head movement.
Like the rest of the erector spinae it is supplied by the dorsal rami of the cervical and upper thoracic spinal nerves. Its blood comes from the occipital, deep cervical and vertebral arteries. It lies close to the greater occipital nerve and is among the deep extensors that become tender and tight in neck strain and some tension headaches.
Attachments, action and supply
- Origin
- Transverse processes of T1 to T4 or T5 and articular processes of C4 to C7.
- Insertion
- Hind edge of the mastoid process.
- Action
- Extends the head; tilts and turns it to the same side when one side acts.
- Nerve supply
- Dorsal rami of the middle and lower cervical and upper thoracic spinal nerves.
- Blood supply
- Occipital, deep cervical and vertebral arteries.
Anthromica
See the longissimus capitis muscle where it really sits, with every layer of the body around it.
- Every layer, one body. Peel from muscle to bone, nerve, vessel and organ, and turn it any way.
- English and Latin. Every structure named the way your exam names it.
- Quiz until it sticks. Short drills on the structures you keep missing.
Free to start. No card.
