ArticlesAnatomyHead and neckNeckPrevertebral muscles

ArticlesAnatomyHead and neckNeckPrevertebral muscles

Prevertebral muscles

Author: Achudhan Karunaharamoorthy, MD • Reviewer: Dimitrios Mytilinaios, MD, PhD
Last reviewed: October 29, 2024
Reading time: 6 minutes

The prevertebral muscles are a group of four paired deep neck muscles, located anterior to the cervical vertebrae. They include the longus capitis, longus colli, rectus capitis anterior and rectus capitis lateralis muscles. This group of muscles are enveloped by the prevertebral layer of the cervical fascia.

When contracting bilaterally, their primary function is flexion of the head and neck. Whilst unilateral contraction can cause either lateral flexion, ipsilateral or contralateral rotation of the neck, depending on which muscle in the group is activated.

Key facts about the prevertebral muscles
Longus capitis	Origin:Anterior tubercles of transverse processes of C3-C6 Insertion: Basilar part of occipital bone Innervation: Anterior rami of spinal nerves C1-C3 Function: Bilaterally: Head flexion, Unilaterally: Ipsilateral head rotation
Longus colli	Origin: - Superior part: Anterior tubercles of transverse processes of vertebrae C3-C5 - Intermediate part: Anterior surface of bodies of vertebrae C5-T3 - Inferior part: Anterior surface of bodies of vertebrae T1-T3 Insertion: - Superior part: Anterior tubercle of vertebra C1 - Intermediate part: Anterior surface of bodies of vertebrae C2-C4 - Inferior part: Anterior tubercles of transverse processes of vertebrae C5-C6 Innervation: Anterior rami of spinal nerves C2-C6 Function: Bilaterally: Neck flexion, Unilaterally: Contralateral neck rotation
Rectus capitis anterior	Origin: Anterior surface of lateral mass and transverse process of atlas Insertion: Inferior surface of basilar part of occipital bone Innervation: Anterior rami of spinal nerves C1, C2 Function: Head flexion
Rectus capitis lateralis	Origin: Superior surface of transverse process of atlas Insertion: Inferior surface of jugular process of occipital bone Innervation: Anterior rami of spinal nerves C1, C2 Function: Lateral flexion of head, stabilizes atlantoocippital joint

Contents

Longus capitis muscle
Longus colli muscle
Rectus capitis anterior
Rectus capitis lateralis
Clinical notes
Sources

+ Show all

Longus capitis muscle

The longus capitis is a long and flat muscle running up the length of the cervical vertebral column, adjacent to the vertebral bodies.

The longus capitis originates as four small straps from the anterior tubercles of the transverse processes of the 3rd to 6th cervical vertebrae and inserts as a single broad muscle belly at the basilar part of the occipital bone.

The longus capitis is innervated by anterior rami of spinal nerves C1-C3. When contracting bilaterally, the longus capitis performs flexion of the head, whilst a unilateral contraction results in ipsilateral rotation of the head.

Longus colli muscle

The longus colli, also known as longus cervicis, spans the entire length of the cervical spine, as well as the first three thoracic vertebrae. As it has several origins, it can be divided into three distinct parts; superior, intermediate and inferior. The superior part originates from the anterior tubercles of transverse processes of vertebrae C3-C5 and inserts on the anterior tubercle of C1 vertebra. The intermediate part originates from the anterior surface of bodies of vertebrae C5-T3 and inserts on the anterior surface of the bodies of vertebrae C2-T4. The inferior part originates from the anterior surface of the bodies of vertebrae T1-T3 and inserts on the anterior tubercles of transverse processes of vertebrae C5-C6.

The longs colli is innervated by the anterior rami of spinal nerves C2-C6. When contracting bilaterally, the longus colli functions to flex the neck, whereas a unilateral contraction results in contralateral rotation of the neck.

Rectus capitis anterior

The rectus capitis anterior lies deep to the superior part of the longus capitis muscle and immediately posterior to the retropharyngeal space. It originates from the anterior surface of lateral mass and root of the transverse process of the atlas (C1). It then extends superomedially and inserts to the inferior surface of basilar part of occipital bone.

The rectus capitis anterior is innervated by the anterior rami of spinal nerve C1-C2. The primary function of the muscle is flexion of the head.

Rectus capitis lateralis

The rectus capitis lateralis is a short flat muscle which lies lateral to the rectus capitis anterior muscle and the cranial end of longus capitis. It originates from the superior surface of the transverse process of the atlas. It inserts of the inferior surface of the jugular process of the occipital bone.

Like the rectus capitis anterior, the rectus capitis lateralis is also innervated the anterior rami of spinal nerve C1. The primary function of the muscle is lateral flexion of the head, whilst it also helps to stabilize the atlantoocippital joint.

Clinical notes

The prevertebral muscles are - despite their small size - the most important antagonists of the large cervical spine extensors such as the trapezius muscle and levator scapulae muscle. They play an enormous role in the connection and stabilization of the cervical column and the skull.

Inappropriate load (e.g. sitting for long periods) and abnormal pattern of posture (e.g. monotonously pulling up the shoulders at the workplace) cause a permanent contraction of the cervical spine extensors which cannot be balanced by the prevertebral muscles in the long term. Consequences are neck pain, indurations, degenerative processes of the vertebral bodies up to a pathological inward curvature of the cervical column (hyperlordosis).

Sources

All content published on Kenhub is reviewed by medical and anatomy experts. The information we provide is grounded on academic literature and peer-reviewed research. Kenhub does not provide medical advice. You can learn more about our content creation and review standards by reading our content quality guidelines.

References:

D. Drenckhahn/J. Waschke: Taschenbuch Anatomie, 1.Auflage, Urban & Fischer Verlag/Elsevier (2008), S.188-189
M. Schünke/E. Schulte/U. Schumacher: Prometheus – LernAtlas der Anatomie – Allgemeine Anatomie und Bewegungssystem, 2.Auflage, Thieme Verlag (2007), S.148-149
R. Putz/R. Pabst: Sobotta – Anatomie des Menschen, 22.Auflage, Urban & Fischer Verlag/Elsevier (2007), S.121
U. Schweizer: Das Kreuz mit dem Nacken, Fitness Tribune, Nr. 55, S.100-101 (http://www.fitnesstribune.com/arc/ift55_2.html)
D. Wottke: Die große orthopädische Rückenschule, 1.Auflage, Springer Verlag (2004), S.47-48

Illustrators:

Longus capitis muscle - Yousun Koh
Longus colli muscle - Yousun Koh

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