The introduction to this article provides insufficient context for those unfamiliar with the subject. Please help improve the article with a good introductory style. (October 2009)

Scalenus medius
The anterior vertebral muscles. (Scalenus medius visible in bottom center-right.)
Section of the neck at about the level of the sixth cervical vertebra. Showing the arrangement of the fascia coli. (Scalenus medius visible at center left.)
Latin	musculus scalenus medius
Gray's	subject #114 396
Origin	C2-C6
Insertion	first rib
Artery	Ascending cervical artery (branch of Inferior thyroid artery)
Nerve	Ventral rami of the third to eighth cervical spinal nerves
Actions	Elevate 1st rib, rotate the neck to the opposite side

The Scalenus medius, the largest and longest of the three scalene muscles, arises from the posterior tubercles of the transverse processes of the lower six cervical vertebræ. It descendes along the side of the vertebral column to insert by a broad attachment into the upper surface of the first rib, between the tubercle and the subclavian groove. The brachial plexus and the subclavian artery pass anterior to it. Because it elevates the upper ribs, the middle scalene muscle is also one of the accessory muscles of respiration.

[edit] See also

• Scalene muscles
• Accessory muscles of respiration

[edit] Additional images

Peculiar ribs.

Muscles of the neck. Lateral view.

[edit] External links

• LUC sm - scalenus medius

This article was originally based on an entry from a public domain edition of Gray's Anatomy. As such, some of the information contained within it may be outdated.

v • d • e List of muscles of head and neck: the neck (TA A04.2, GA 4.387) Cervical CN VII (superficial, PC): platysma CN XI (deep): sternocleidomastoid C1-C6 (anterior): Prevertebral muscles: longus (capitis, colli) C3-C8 (lateral): scalene (anterior, medius, posterior) Suboccipital C1: rectus capitis posterior (major, minor) · obliquus capitis (inferior, superior) C1-C6 (anterior): Prevertebral muscles: rectus capitis (anterior, lateralis) Suprahyoid CN V3 (medial): mylohyoid · anterior belly of digastric CN VII (lateral): stylohyoid · posterior belly of digastric C1 (deep): geniohyoid Infrahyoid/strap C1: thyrohyoid C1-C3: sternohyoid  · sternothyroid · omohyoid Fasciae Deep cervical fascia (Pretracheal fascia, Prevertebral fascia, Investing layer) · Carotid sheath · Alar fascia pharynx: Buccopharyngeal fascia · Pharyngobasilar fascia Palatine aponeurosis Pharyngeal raphe Pharynx pharyngeal constrictor (superior, middle, inferior) · longitudinal (stylopharyngeus, salpingopharyngeus) Larynx cricothyroid · cricoarytenoid (posterior, lateral) · arytenoid (oblique arytenoid/aryepiglottic, transverse arytenoid) · thyroarytenoid (vocal, thyroepiglottic)

This muscle article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. v • d • e