Longus capitis muscle
Musculus longus capitis
Longus capitis is a deep muscle on the front of the upper neck, rising from C3 to C6 to the skull base.
At a glance
- English
- Longus capitis muscle
- Latin (TA2)
- Musculus longus capitis
- System
- Muscle
- Region
- Neck
- Side
- Paired, left and right
About the longus capitis muscle
Longus capitis is one of the prevertebral muscles, the deep group lying directly on the front of the cervical vertebrae behind the pharynx. Its name means the long muscle of the head, and older texts called it rectus capitis anticus major. It is thick and broad at its upper end and tapers below. It lies in front of and slightly lateral to the upper part of longus colli, behind the prevertebral layer of the deep cervical fascia, with the sympathetic trunk and carotid sheath in front of it.
Its four tendinous slips spring from the front tubercles of the C3 to C6 transverse processes. The slips join and the belly climbs upwards and inwards, drawing closer to its partner of the other side, to reach the underside of the occipital bone's basilar part, in front of the foramen magnum and just lateral to the pharyngeal tubercle.
When both sides contract, longus capitis bends the head forwards on the neck and helps flex the upper cervical spine, as in nodding the chin towards the chest. When one side acts alone, it tilts the head towards that side and turns the face slightly towards it. It works with longus colli and rectus capitis anterior to counterbalance the powerful extensors at the back of the neck and so to control head posture.
It is supplied by branches of the cervical plexus, from the ventral rami of C1 to C3, and receives blood from the ascending pharyngeal, ascending cervical and vertebral arteries. Lying just behind the pharynx, it forms part of the posterior wall of the retropharyngeal space, where infection or swelling can collect. Like longus colli, it can be stretched in whiplash injuries that throw the head backwards.
Attachments, action and supply
- Origin
- Front tubercles of the C3 to C6 transverse processes.
- Insertion
- Underside of the occipital bone's basilar part.
- Action
- Flexes the head and upper neck; one side tilts the head and turns it to the same side.
- Nerve supply
- Ventral rami of C1 to C3 via the cervical plexus.
- Blood supply
- Ascending pharyngeal, ascending cervical and vertebral arteries.
Anthromica
See the longus 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.
