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Semispinalis Cervicis Muscle

Semispinalis Cervicis Muscle

Author: Scott A. Sheffield MS

Last update: Oct 20th, 2022

The semispinalis cervicis belongs to the deep layer of the intrinsic back muscles.

Semispinalis Cervicis Muscle

Posterior view of the occipital region of the skull, cervical and thoracic regions of the spinal column, upper arm, scapulae and the most superficial layer of the attached muscles. The labelled muscles are Trapezius, Deltoid and Latissimus Dorsi.

Posterior view of the occipital region of the skull, cervical and thoracic regions of the spinal column, upper arm, scapulae and a deeper layer of the attached muscles. The labelled muscles are Sternocleidomastoid, Semispinalis Capitis, Splenius Capitis, Splenius Cervicis, External Intercostals, Longissimus Thoracis, Spinalis Thoracis and Iliocostalis Thoracis.

Posterior view of the occipital region of the skull, cervical and thoracic regions of the spinal column, upper arm, scapulae and a deeper layer of the attached muscles. The labelled muscles are Semispinalis Capitis and Semispinalis Thoracis.

Posterior view of the occipital region of the skull, cervical and thoracic regions of the spinal column, upper arm, scapulae and the deepest layer of the back and neck muscles. The labelled muscles are Semispinalis Cervicis and Semispinalis Thoracis.

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Attachments of the Semispinalis Cervicis Muscle

Origin
a. Transverse processes of T1 – T6.

Insertion
a. Spinous processes of C2 – C5.

Posterior view of the occipital region of the skull, cervical and thoracic regions of the spinal column, upper arm, scapulae and the most superficial layer of the attached muscles. The labelled muscles are Trapezius, Deltoid and Latissimus Dorsi.

Posterior view of the occipital region of the skull, cervical and thoracic regions of the spinal column, upper arm, scapulae and the deepest layer of the back and neck muscles. The labelled muscles are Semispinalis Cervicis and Semispinalis Thoracis.

Posterior view of the occipital region of the skull, cervical and thoracic regions of the spinal column, upper arm and scapulae showing the origin of Semispinalis Cervicis at the transverse processes of T1 - T6 marked by a red circles and insertion at spinous processes of C2 - C5 marked by a blue line.

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Actions of the Semispinalis Cervicis Muscle:

a. Bilaterally extends cervical (neck) vertebrae.

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Slide 2 of the animation showing the extension of cervical vertebrae.

Slide 3 of the animation showing the extension of cervical vertebrae.

Slide 4 of the animation showing the extension of cervical vertebrae.

Slide 5 of the animation showing the extension of cervical vertebrae.

b. Uniterally laterally flexes cervical (neck) vertebrae.

Slide 2 of the animation showing the lateral extension of cervical vertebrae.

Slide 3 of the animation showing the lateral extension of cervical vertebrae.

Slide 4 of the animation showing the lateral extension of cervical vertebrae.

Slide 5 of the animation showing the lateral extension of cervical vertebrae.

c. Uniterally rotates cervical (neck) vertebrae to opposite side (= contralateral rotation).

Slide 2 of the animation showing the conctrolateral rotation of cervical vertebrae.

Slide 3 of the animation showing the conctrolateral rotation of cervical vertebrae.

Slide 4 of the animation showing the conctrolateral rotation of cervical vertebrae.

Slide 5 of the animation showing the conctrolateral rotation of cervical vertebrae.

Nerve to the Semispinalis Cervicis Muscle

a. Dorsal rami of cervical spinal nerves.

An overview of the posterior muscles of the neck

A quiz image of the posterior view of the occipital region of the skull, cervical and thoracic regions of the spinal column, upper arm, scapulae and the most superficial muscle layer. Muscles are labelled 1-3 and the answers are concealed.

A quiz image of the posterior view of the occipital region of the skull, cervical and thoracic regions of the spinal column, upper arm, scapulae and the most superficial muscle layer. The muscles of the back and neck are labelled 1-3. The answers at the bottom are as follows 1. Trapezius 2. Deltoid 3. Latissimus Dorsi.

A quiz image of the posterior view of the occipital region of the skull, cervical and thoracic regions of the spinal column, upper arm, scapulae and the deeper muscle layer. The muscles of the back and neck are labelled 1-4. The answers at the bottom are as follows 1. Supraspinatus 2. Infraspinatus 3. Teres Minor 4. Teres Major.

A quiz image of the posterior view of the occipital region of the skull, cervical and thoracic regions of the spinal column, upper arm, scapulae and the deeper muscle layer. The muscles of the back and neck are labelled 1-4. The answers at the bottom are as follows 1. Levator Scapula 2. Rhomboids Minor 3. Rhomboids Major 4. Serratus Anterior.

A quiz image of the posterior view of the occipital region of the skull, cervical and thoracic regions of the spinal column, upper arm, scapulae and the deeper muscle layer. The muscles of the back and neck are labelled 1-2. The answers at the bottom are as follows 1. Serratus Posterior Superior 2. Serratus Posterior Inferior.

A quiz image of the posterior view of the occipital region of the skull, cervical and thoracic regions of the spinal column, upper arm, scapulae and the deeper muscle layer. The muscles of the back and neck are labelled 1-8. The answers at the bottom are as follows 1. Sternocleidomastoid 2. Semispinalis Capitis 3. Splenius Capitis 4. Splenius Cervicis 5. External Intercostals 6. Longissimus Thoracis 7. Spinalis Thoracis 8. Iliocostalis Thoracis

A quiz image of the posterior view of the occipital region of the skull, cervical and thoracic regions of the spinal column, upper arm, scapulae and the deeper muscle layer. The muscles of the back and neck are labelled 1-6. The answers at the bottom are as follows 1. Semispinalis Capitis 2. Splenius Capitis 3. Splenius Cervicis 4. Longissimus Thoracis 5. Spinalis Thoracis 6. Iliocostalis Thoracis.

A quiz image of the posterior view of the occipital region of the skull, cervical and thoracic regions of the spinal column, upper arm, scapulae and the deeper muscle layer. The muscles of the back and neck are labelled 1-5. The answers at the bottom are as follows 1. Semispinalis Capitis 2. Splenius Capitis 3. Splenius Cervicis 4. Longissimus Thoracis 5. Spinalis Thoracis.

A quiz image of a skeleton on a posterior view with the semispinalis capitis, splenius capitis, splenius cervicis and spinalis thoracis muscles labeled

A quiz image of the posterior view of the occipital region of the skull, cervical and thoracic regions of the spinal column, upper arm, scapulae and the deeper muscle layer. The muscles of the back and neck are labelled 1-4. The answers at the bottom are as follows 1. Semispinalis Capitis 2. Splenius Capitis 3. Splenius Cervicis 4. Semispinalis Thoracis.

A quiz image of the posterior view of the occipital region of the skull, cervical and thoracic regions of the spinal column, upper arm, scapulae and the deeper muscle layer. The muscles of the back and neck are labelled 1-2. The answers at the bottom are as follows 1. Semispinalis Capitis 2. Semispinalis Thoracis.

A quiz image of the posterior view of the occipital region of the skull, cervical and thoracic regions of the spinal column, upper arm, scapulae and the deeper muscle layer. The muscles of the back and neck are labelled 1-2. The answers at the bottom are as follows 1. Semispinalis Cervicis 2. Semispinalis Thoracis.

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