Splenius capitis muscle
Muscles connecting the upper extremity to the vertebral column. (Splenius capitis et cervicis labeled at upper right.)
Section of the neck at about the level of the sixth cervical vertebra. Showing the arrangement of the fascia coli. (Splenius capitis labeled at bottom right.)
Latin	musculus splenius capitis
Gray's	subject #115 397
Origin	Ligamentum nuchae, spinous process of C7-T6
Insertion	Mastoid process of temporal and occipital bone
Artery
Nerve	C3, C4
Actions	Extend, rotate, and laterally flex the head

The splenius capitis A broad, straplike muscle in the back of the neck. It connects the base of the skull to the vertebrae in the neck and upper thorax.

Contents 1 Origin, insertion, and Innervation 2 Function 3 Etymology 4 Additional images 5 External links

[edit] Origin, insertion, and Innervation

It arises from the lower half of the ligamentum nuchæ, from the spinous process of the seventh cervical vertebra, and from the spinous processes of the upper three or four thoracic vertebræ.

The fibers of the muscle are directed upward and lateralward and are inserted, under cover of the Sternocleidomastoideus, into the mastoid process of the temporal bone, and into the rough surface on the occipital bone just below the lateral third of the superior nuchal line.

The Splenius Capitis muscle is innervated by the dorsal rami of C1-T1.

[edit] Function

The splenius muscle is a prime mover for head extension. The splenius capitis can also rotate the head by activation of only one side.

[edit] Etymology

The name derives from the Greek word "spléníon," which means plaster or patch.

[edit] Additional images

Occipital bone. Outer surface.

Left temporal bone. Outer surface.

Muscles of the neck. Lateral view.

[edit] External links

• LUC spca
• SUNY Figs 01:03-01 - "Superficial layer of the extrinsic muscles of the back."
• SUNY Figs 01:05-01 - "Intermediate layer of the extrinsic muscles of the back, deep muscles."
• SUNY Figs 24:01-02 - "Identification of the muscles associated with the posterolateral triangle."
• Splenius+capitis at eMedicine Dictionary
• PTCentral

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 As such, some of the information contained within it may be outdated.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 torso (TA A04.3-5, GA 4.397) Back splenius (capitis, cervicis) · erector spinae (iliocostalis, longissimus, spinalis) · latissimus dorsi transversospinales: (semispinalis dorsi, semispinalis cervicis, semispinalis capitis, multifidus, rotatores) · interspinales · intertransversarii Vertebral column: trapezius · latissimus dorsi · rhomboid (major, minor) · levator scapulae fascia: Thoracolumbar fascia Thorax intercostales (external, internal, innermost) · subcostales · transversus thoracis · levatores costarum · serratus posterior (inferior, superior) · diaphragm Thoracic cavity: pectoralis major · pectoralis minor · subclavius · serratus anterior fascia: Pectoral fascia · Clavipectoral fascia Abdominopelvic Abdomen/ wall Anterior/ lateral Abdominal external oblique · Transversus abdominis/Conjoint tendon · Rectus sheath (rectus abdominis, pyramidalis) · Arcuate line · Tendinous intersection Cremaster · Abdominal internal oblique Fascia/abdominal fascia: panniculus adiposus (Fascia of Camper) · stratum membranosum (Fascia of Scarpa) · Transversalis fascia (Interfoveolar ligament) Linea alba · Linea semilunaris · Inguinal triangle Inguinal canal (Deep inguinal ring, Superficial inguinal ring, Intercrural fibers, Crura of superficial inguinal ring) Inguinal ligament (Pectineal ligament, Lacunar ligament, Reflected ligament) Posterior quadratus lumborum · psoas major/psoas minor · iliacus  · iliopsoas fascia (Iliac fascia/Iliopectineal arch) Pelvis levator ani (iliococcygeus, pubococcygeus, puborectalis) · coccygeus fascia/pelvic fascia visceral (Rectovaginal fascia, Rectoprostatic fascia) · parietal (Obturator fascia/Tendinous arch, Piriformis fascia) floor/diaphragm: Superior fascia of pelvic diaphragm (Pubovesical ligament, Puboprostatic ligament) · Inferior fascia of pelvic diaphragm Anococcygeal body

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