The Splenius Capitis muscle is one of the intrinsic neck muscles. It extends the head, and aids with rotation of the skull.
Its origin lies within the lower half of the ligamentum nuchae and spinous processes of the seventh cervical vertebra and upper three or four thoracic vertebra. Bilateral contraction of this muscle extends the neck while unilateral contraction, in conjunction with the sternocleidomastoid muscle, laterally flexes it laterally towards one side.
Origin
The splenius capitis muscle (/slinskpsrvs/) is one of the deeper neck muscles. It begins its path at the lower part of the ligamentum nuchale and the spinous processes of C7 (Cervical Vertebra 7), before inserting onto the mastoid process of temporal bone where it runs superiorly and laterally before becoming innervated by dorsal rami from second and third cervical spinal nerves.
The primary function of the splenius capitis muscle is to flex and rotate the neck. It also plays an integral role in stabilizing the scapula. Working alongside other muscle groups such as SCM and upper trapezius muscle it plays an essential role. Unfortunately it may become injured from neck injuries, poor posture or involuntary movement patterns which affect its effectiveness.
Splenius capitis muscles are often activated due to repeated neck injuries such as whiplash. Additionally, chronic tension-type headaches and associated tinnitus often involve this muscle as well. When injured, injuries to this muscle may cause vertex pain at the top of your head while injuries at its base may produce temporalis pain (back of eye pain).
In addition to its flexion and rotation movements, the splenius capitis muscle also assists in moving the head forward or backward. Its attachment on the mastoid process serves as an important point of contact with other muscles such as the levator scapulae and erector spinae muscles which flex and rotate the head and neck respectively.
Although an essential muscle in the neck, the splenius capitis remains under-developed and frequently contains trigger points; these may be active or latent and make this muscle susceptible to injury from poor posture such as prolonged neck flexion.
Acupuncture and dry needling techniques can effectively deactivate trigger points in the splenius capitis muscle as well as other neck muscles, providing effective pain relief while treating other symptoms like headaches such as chronic tension-type headaches, tinnitus, cervical radiculopathy. Furthermore, these therapies may increase range of motion while decreasing stiffness in the neck area.
Insertion
Splenius capitis is a muscle in the back of the neck that extends and rotates the head, receiving innervation from dorsal rami of middle and lower cervical spinal nerves, with blood supply from occipital, transverse cervical, and deep cervical arteries. Bilateral contractions extend neck range of motion while unilateral contractions rotate and flex it ipsilaterally (bilateral). Furthermore, this muscle forms part of the floor of posterior triangle of neck.
The splenius capitis muscle is a broad, straplike muscle in the back of the neck that extends and tilts the head back from vertebrae in the neck and upper thorax, as well as being responsible for shaking it. It connects to several other muscles such as sternocleidomastoideus, semispinalis cervicis and superior portion trapezius muscles; its prime mover being head extension; it works synergistically with them to rotate and laterally flex the neck flexing.
A tendinous band of the splenius capitis muscle starts its journey at the lower half of the ligamentum nuchale and spinous processes of seventh cervical vertebrae and upper three or four thoracic vertebrae, before branching off and inserting itself in posterior tubercles located out of transverse processes of third to sixth thoracic vertebrae (C3-C6) via transverse processes.
Dysfunction of the splenius capitis muscle can lead to neck pain and dizziness as well as balance issues, dizziness and other balance-related conditions. Poor posture, playing musical instruments or lying with head propped up on pillow may result in muscular dysfunction resulting in vertigo or headaches which must then be treated by stretching, myofascial release or Botox injections for maximum effectiveness.
Action
The splenius capitis muscle is one of the deep neck muscles. This broad strap-like muscle extends from the spinous processes of cervical vertebrae to the skull and contracts to extend head and neck extension, laterally flex neck movement, and rotate head rotation in one direction. Working alongside semispinalis cervicis and superior portion trapezius muscles to perform these movements efficiently, it receives blood supply via an occipital artery.
Injurys to the splenius capitis muscle are rare but may occur through overuse or trauma. Overload may occur from sudden movements or repeated bending and turning of the neck in one direction; overuse may also cause inflammation of this muscle group; trauma may come in the form of car accidents or from direct blows to head and neck region.
Over time, splenius capitis may develop trigger points – hypersensitive areas in muscles that form scar tissue that are sensitive to touch. They can be extremely painful when touched, as well as refer pain elsewhere on your head or neck. Common symptoms of trigger points in splenius capitis include stiffness in the neck as well as behind-the-eye or side-of-skull pain.
Trigger points in the splenius capitis and cervicis muscles can often be found among those suffering mechanical chronic neck pain or whiplash injuries, or with overactive splenius capitis and inhibition of Semispinalis Cervicis. An effective management plan may combine stretching and myofascial release for these muscle issues to address them effectively.
This approach to managing muscle tightness allows for gradual length changes rather than forcing immediate and unrealistic neck extensions. It respects protective responses of mechanosensitive nerve tissues in the neck while avoiding excessive muscle tightness that could increase sensitivity or prevent stretching further. Stretches should still be implemented gradually and combined with myofascial release of the splenius capitis muscle and other neck muscles for maximum effectiveness.
Function
The splenius capitis muscle plays an essential part in extending and maintaining cervical lordosis, as well as with lateral flexion and rotation of the head to its opposite side. The muscle receives arterial blood supply via muscular branches of the occipital artery originating from external carotid artery.
The splenius cervicis muscle lies at the back of the neck and runs from the spinous processes of the last three cervical vertebrae to the mastoid process on the temporal bone. Together with semispinalis cervicis muscles, this group forms part of the floor for posterior triangle of neck; additionally it covers part of sternocleidomastoid muscle.
These muscles work in concert with other neck and shoulder muscles to move the scapula. Any dysfunction of these or any of the other muscles they work alongside or against may result in neck pain and stiffness, leading to chronic stiffness or pain in some people.
Other muscles associated with splenius cervicis include the levator scapulae and erector spinae muscles. Together these are used to limit or restrict the rotation of the head from side-to-side – this prevents excessive head turning from side to side that could damage structures supporting it in the neck.
Trigger points within the splenius cervicis muscle can lead to vertex pain as well as stiffness and limited neck rotation on one side of your head. Furthermore, trigger points within this muscle may interfere with vision by making it hard for someone to see things out of the corner of their eye or when turning their head to one side.
Ten healthy volunteers (3 men and 7 women; aged 30.7 +/- 7.4 years; height 170 +/- 8.8 cm) participated in this study, providing intramuscular EMG recordings from both splenius cervicis (at C2 and C5) as well as half of semispinalis cervicis muscles in a prone position with head slightly flexed position flexed at 45 degrees from one another during an EMG test on their belly muscles at spinal levels C2 to C5.
