Muscles of the Head and Neck

Authors

Affiliations

Nate Yomogida, PT, DPT

Doctor of Physical Therapy

B.S. in Kinesiology

Chloë Kerstein, PT, DPT

Doctor of Physical Therapy

B.A. in Neuroscience

Muscles of Facial Expression

Muscles of Facial Expression OIAN

Muscle	Origin	Insertion	Nerve	Action
Calvaria
Occipitofrontalis (Frontal belly)	/The Archive/Anatomy/Skeletal Muscles/Head and Neck/Muscles of Facial Expression/occipitofrontalis.html#origin	/The Archive/Anatomy/Skeletal Muscles/Head and Neck/Muscles of Facial Expression/occipitofrontalis.html#insertion	?var:ref-occipitofrontalis.nerve	/The Archive/Anatomy/Skeletal Muscles/Head and Neck/Muscles of Facial Expression/occipitofrontalis.html#action
Palpebral Fissure and Nose
Procerus	/The Archive/Anatomy/Skeletal Muscles/Head and Neck/Muscles of Facial Expression/procerus.html#origin	/The Archive/Anatomy/Skeletal Muscles/Head and Neck/Muscles of Facial Expression/procerus.html#insertion	?var:ref-procerus.nerve	/The Archive/Anatomy/Skeletal Muscles/Head and Neck/Muscles of Facial Expression/procerus.html#action
Orbicularis Oculi	/The Archive/Anatomy/Skeletal Muscles/Head and Neck/Muscles of Facial Expression/orbicularis_oculi.html#origin	/The Archive/Anatomy/Skeletal Muscles/Head and Neck/Muscles of Facial Expression/orbicularis_oculi.html#insertion	?var:ref-orbicularis-oculi.nerve	/The Archive/Anatomy/Skeletal Muscles/Head and Neck/Muscles of Facial Expression/orbicularis_oculi.html#action
Nasalis	/The Archive/Anatomy/Skeletal Muscles/Head and Neck/Muscles of Facial Expression/nasalis.html#origin	/The Archive/Anatomy/Skeletal Muscles/Head and Neck/Muscles of Facial Expression/nasalis.html#insertion	?var:ref-nasalis.nerve	/The Archive/Anatomy/Skeletal Muscles/Head and Neck/Muscles of Facial Expression/nasalis.html#action
Levator Labii superioris alaeque nasi	/The Archive/Anatomy/Skeletal Muscles/Head and Neck/Muscles of Facial Expression/levator_labii_superioris_alaeque_nasi.html#origin	/The Archive/Anatomy/Skeletal Muscles/Head and Neck/Muscles of Facial Expression/levator_labii_superioris_alaeque_nasi.html#insertion	?var:ref-levator-labii-superioris-alaeque-nasi.nerve	/The Archive/Anatomy/Skeletal Muscles/Head and Neck/Muscles of Facial Expression/levator_labii_superioris_alaeque_nasi.html#action
Ear
Anterior Auricular Muscle	/The Archive/Anatomy/Skeletal Muscles/Head and Neck/Muscles of Facial Expression/anterior_auricular_muscle.html#origin	/The Archive/Anatomy/Skeletal Muscles/Head and Neck/Muscles of Facial Expression/anterior_auricular_muscle.html#insertion	?var:ref-anterior-auricular-muscle.nerve	/The Archive/Anatomy/Skeletal Muscles/Head and Neck/Muscles of Facial Expression/anterior_auricular_muscle.html#action
Muscle	Origin	Insertion	Nerve	Action
——	——–	——-	———-	——–
Superior Auricular Muscle	/The Archive/Anatomy/Skeletal Muscles/Head and Neck/Muscles of Facial Expression/superior_auricular_muscle.html#origin	/The Archive/Anatomy/Skeletal Muscles/Head and Neck/Muscles of Facial Expression/superior_auricular_muscle.html#insertion	?var:ref-superior-auricular-muscle.nerve	/The Archive/Anatomy/Skeletal Muscles/Head and Neck/Muscles of Facial Expression/superior_auricular_muscle.html#action
Posterior Auricular Muscle	/The Archive/Anatomy/Skeletal Muscles/Head and Neck/Muscles of Facial Expression/superior_auricular_muscle.html#origin	/The Archive/Anatomy/Skeletal Muscles/Head and Neck/Muscles of Facial Expression/superior_auricular_muscle.html#insertion	?var:ref-posterior-auricular-muscle.nerve	/The Archive/Anatomy/Skeletal Muscles/Head and Neck/Muscles of Facial Expression/superior_auricular_muscle.html#action
Mouth
Zygomaticus major	/The Archive/Anatomy/Skeletal Muscles/Head and Neck/Muscles of Facial Expression/zygomaticus_major.html#origin	/The Archive/Anatomy/Skeletal Muscles/Head and Neck/Muscles of Facial Expression/zygomaticus_major.html#insertion	?var:ref-zygomaticus-major.nerve	/The Archive/Anatomy/Skeletal Muscles/Head and Neck/Muscles of Facial Expression/zygomaticus_major.html#action
Zygomaticus Minor	/The Archive/Anatomy/Skeletal Muscles/Head and Neck/Muscles of Facial Expression/zygomaticus_minor.html#origin	/The Archive/Anatomy/Skeletal Muscles/Head and Neck/Muscles of Facial Expression/zygomaticus_minor.html#insertion	?var:ref-zygomaticus-minor.nerve	/The Archive/Anatomy/Skeletal Muscles/Head and Neck/Muscles of Facial Expression/zygomaticus_minor.html#action
Levator Labii superioris alaeque nasi	/The Archive/Anatomy/Skeletal Muscles/Head and Neck/Muscles of Facial Expression/levator_labii_superioris_alaeque_nasi.html#origin	/The Archive/Anatomy/Skeletal Muscles/Head and Neck/Muscles of Facial Expression/levator_labii_superioris_alaeque_nasi.html#insertion	?var:ref-levator-labii-superioris-alaeque-nasi.nerve	/The Archive/Anatomy/Skeletal Muscles/Head and Neck/Muscles of Facial Expression/levator_labii_superioris_alaeque_nasi.html#action
Levator Labii superioris	/The Archive/Anatomy/Skeletal Muscles/Head and Neck/Muscles of Facial Expression/levator_labii_superioris.html#origin	/The Archive/Anatomy/Skeletal Muscles/Head and Neck/Muscles of Facial Expression/levator_labii_superioris.html#insertion	?var:ref-levator-labii-superioris.nerve	/The Archive/Anatomy/Skeletal Muscles/Head and Neck/Muscles of Facial Expression/levator_labii_superioris.html#action
Depressor labii inferioris	/The Archive/Anatomy/Skeletal Muscles/Head and Neck/Muscles of Facial Expression/depressor_labii_inferioris.html#origin	/The Archive/Anatomy/Skeletal Muscles/Head and Neck/Muscles of Facial Expression/depressor_labii_inferioris.html#insertion	?var:ref-depressor-labii-inferioris.nerve	/The Archive/Anatomy/Skeletal Muscles/Head and Neck/Muscles of Facial Expression/depressor_labii_inferioris.html#action
Levator Anguli Oris	?var:ref-levator-anguli-oris.origin	?var:ref-levator-anguli-oris.insertion	?var:ref-levator-anguli-oris.nerve	?var:ref-levator-anguli-oris.action
Depressor Anguli Oris	/The Archive/Anatomy/Skeletal Muscles/Head and Neck/Muscles of Facial Expression/depressor_anguli_oris.html#origin	/The Archive/Anatomy/Skeletal Muscles/Head and Neck/Muscles of Facial Expression/depressor_anguli_oris.html#insertion	?var:ref-depressor-anguli-oris.nerve	/The Archive/Anatomy/Skeletal Muscles/Head and Neck/Muscles of Facial Expression/depressor_anguli_oris.html#action
Buccinator	/The Archive/Anatomy/Skeletal Muscles/Head and Neck/Muscles of Facial Expression/buccinator.html#origin	/The Archive/Anatomy/Skeletal Muscles/Head and Neck/Muscles of Facial Expression/buccinator.html#insertion	?var:ref-buccinator.nerve	/The Archive/Anatomy/Skeletal Muscles/Head and Neck/Muscles of Facial Expression/buccinator.html#action
Orbicularis Oris	/The Archive/Anatomy/Skeletal Muscles/Head and Neck/Muscles of Facial Expression/orbicularis_oris.html#origin	/The Archive/Anatomy/Skeletal Muscles/Head and Neck/Muscles of Facial Expression/orbicularis_oris.html#insertion	?var:ref-orbicularis-oris.nerve	/The Archive/Anatomy/Skeletal Muscles/Head and Neck/Muscles of Facial Expression/orbicularis_oris.html#action
Risorius	/The Archive/Anatomy/Skeletal Muscles/Head and Neck/Muscles of Facial Expression/risorius.html#origin	/The Archive/Anatomy/Skeletal Muscles/Head and Neck/Muscles of Facial Expression/risorius.html#insertion	?var:ref-risorius.nerve	/The Archive/Anatomy/Skeletal Muscles/Head and Neck/Muscles of Facial Expression/risorius.html#action
Mentalis muscle	?var:ref-mentalis-muscle.origin	?var:ref-mentalis-muscle.insertion	?var:ref-mentalis-muscle.nerve	?var:ref-mentalis-muscle.action
Neck
Platysma muscle	/The Archive/Anatomy/Skeletal Muscles/Head and Neck/Muscles of Facial Expression/platysma.html#origin	/The Archive/Anatomy/Skeletal Muscles/Head and Neck/Muscles of Facial Expression/platysma.html#insertion	?var:ref-platysma.nerve	/The Archive/Anatomy/Skeletal Muscles/Head and Neck/Muscles of Facial Expression/platysma.html#action

Innervation

*There are no bony insertions for the muscles of facial expression¹

**All muscles of facial expression are innervated by the facial nerve (CN VII) via temporal, zygomatic, buccal, mandibular, or cervical branches arising from the parotid plexus¹

Muscles of Mastication

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Table 1: Primary muscles of Mastication

Muscle	Origin	Insertion	Innervation	Action
Lateral pterygoid
Masseter
Medial pterygoid
Temporalis

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Table 2: Accessory muscles of Mastication

Muscle	Origin	Insertion	Innervation	Action
Digastric				Hyoid: Elevation (during swallowing) TMJ: Assists with opening mandible
Geniohyoid
Mylohyoid				Oral floor: Tighten, Elevation Hyoid: Draws forward (during swallowing) TMJ: Assists with opening mandible, Side-to-side movement during mastication
Stylohyoid				Hyoid: Elevation (during swallowing) TMJ: Assists with opening mandible

Muscles of the Neck

Superficial Neck Muscles

Table 3: Superficial Neck muscles

Muscle	Origin	Insertion	Innervation	Action
Platysma
Sternocleidomastoid	Manubrium Medial third of Clavicle	Mastoid process Superior nuchal line	CN XI Accessory n. Cervical plexus C1 - C4	Unilateral: I/L cervical sidebend, C/L cervical rotation Bilateral: Head extension, Cervical Flexion, Assists in respiration, Prevents posterior translation during mastication SCJ stabilization
Upper trapezius	Occiput SP C1-C7	lateral 1/3 of Clavicle	Accessory n. (CN XI) C3 - C4	Scapula: Elevation, Upward rotatino Neck: I/L sidebend, C/L Rotation

Nuchal muscles (Intrinsic back muscles)

Nuchal muscles (Intrinsic back muscles)

Muscle	Origin	Insertion	Nerve	Action
Semispinalis Capitis	/The Archive/Anatomy/Skeletal Muscles/Muscles of the back/Transversospinalis Muscles/semispinalis.html#origin	/The Archive/Anatomy/Skeletal Muscles/Muscles of the back/Transversospinalis Muscles/semispinalis.html#insertion	?var:ref-semispinalis-capitis.nerve	/The Archive/Anatomy/Skeletal Muscles/Muscles of the back/Transversospinalis Muscles/semispinalis.html#action
Semispinalis Cervicis	/The Archive/Anatomy/Skeletal Muscles/Muscles of the back/Transversospinalis Muscles/semispinalis.html#origin	/The Archive/Anatomy/Skeletal Muscles/Muscles of the back/Transversospinalis Muscles/semispinalis.html#insertion	?var:ref-semispinalis-cervicis.nerve	/The Archive/Anatomy/Skeletal Muscles/Muscles of the back/Transversospinalis Muscles/semispinalis.html#action
Splenius Capitis	/The Archive/Anatomy/Skeletal Muscles/Muscles of the back/Superficial Intrinsic Back Muscles/Splenius capitis muscle/splenius_capitis.html#origin	/The Archive/Anatomy/Skeletal Muscles/Muscles of the back/Superficial Intrinsic Back Muscles/Splenius capitis muscle/splenius_capitis.html#insertion	?var:ref-splenius-capitis.nerve	/The Archive/Anatomy/Skeletal Muscles/Muscles of the back/Superficial Intrinsic Back Muscles/Splenius capitis muscle/splenius_capitis.html#action
Splenius Cervicis	/The Archive/Anatomy/Skeletal Muscles/Muscles of the back/Superficial Intrinsic Back Muscles/splenius_cervicis.html#origin	/The Archive/Anatomy/Skeletal Muscles/Muscles of the back/Superficial Intrinsic Back Muscles/splenius_cervicis.html#insertion	?var:ref-splenius-cervicis.nerve	/The Archive/Anatomy/Skeletal Muscles/Muscles of the back/Superficial Intrinsic Back Muscles/splenius_cervicis.html#action
Longissimus Capitis	/The Archive/Anatomy/Skeletal Muscles/Muscles of the back/Erector Spinae/longissimus.html#origin	/The Archive/Anatomy/Skeletal Muscles/Muscles of the back/Erector Spinae/longissimus.html#insertion	?var:ref-longissimus-capitis.nerve	/The Archive/Anatomy/Skeletal Muscles/Muscles of the back/Erector Spinae/longissimus.html#action
Longissimus Cervicis	/The Archive/Anatomy/Skeletal Muscles/Muscles of the back/Erector Spinae/longissimus.html#origin	/The Archive/Anatomy/Skeletal Muscles/Muscles of the back/Erector Spinae/longissimus.html#insertion	?var:ref-longissimus-cervicis.nerve	/The Archive/Anatomy/Skeletal Muscles/Muscles of the back/Erector Spinae/longissimus.html#action
Iliocostalis cervicis	/The Archive/Anatomy/Skeletal Muscles/Muscles of the back/Erector Spinae/iliocostalis.html#origin	/The Archive/Anatomy/Skeletal Muscles/Muscles of the back/Erector Spinae/iliocostalis.html#insertion	?var:ref-iliocostalis-cervicis.nerve	/The Archive/Anatomy/Skeletal Muscles/Muscles of the back/Erector Spinae/iliocostalis.html#action
Rectus Capitis Posterior Major	/The Archive/Anatomy/Skeletal Muscles/Muscles of the back/Suboccipital Muscles/rectus_capitis_posterior_major.html#origin	/The Archive/Anatomy/Skeletal Muscles/Muscles of the back/Suboccipital Muscles/rectus_capitis_posterior_major.html#insertion	?var:ref-rectus-capitis-posterior-major.nerve	/The Archive/Anatomy/Skeletal Muscles/Muscles of the back/Suboccipital Muscles/rectus_capitis_posterior_major.html#action
Rectus Capitis Posterior Minor	/The Archive/Anatomy/Skeletal Muscles/Muscles of the back/Suboccipital Muscles/rectus_capitis_posterior_minor.html#origin	/The Archive/Anatomy/Skeletal Muscles/Muscles of the back/Suboccipital Muscles/rectus_capitis_posterior_minor.html#insertion	?var:ref-rectus-capitis-posterior-minor.nerve	/The Archive/Anatomy/Skeletal Muscles/Muscles of the back/Suboccipital Muscles/rectus_capitis_posterior_minor.html#action
Obliquus Capitis Superior	/The Archive/Anatomy/Skeletal Muscles/Muscles of the back/Suboccipital Muscles/obliquus_capitis_superior.html#origin	/The Archive/Anatomy/Skeletal Muscles/Muscles of the back/Suboccipital Muscles/obliquus_capitis_superior.html#insertion	?var:ref-obliquus-capitis-superior.nerve	/The Archive/Anatomy/Skeletal Muscles/Muscles of the back/Suboccipital Muscles/obliquus_capitis_superior.html#action
Obliquus Capitis Inferior	/The Archive/Anatomy/Skeletal Muscles/Muscles of the back/Suboccipital Muscles/obliquus_capitis_inferior.html#origin	/The Archive/Anatomy/Skeletal Muscles/Muscles of the back/Suboccipital Muscles/obliquus_capitis_inferior.html#insertion	?var:ref-obliquus-capitis-inferior.nerve	/The Archive/Anatomy/Skeletal Muscles/Muscles of the back/Suboccipital Muscles/obliquus_capitis_inferior.html#action

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Table 4: Intrinsic back muscles

Muscle	Origin	Insertion	Innervation	Action
Anterior Intertransversarii cervicis	C2-C7 Anterior tubercle of superior segment	C2-C7 Anterior tubercle of inferior segment	Spinal nn. (anterior rami)	Bilateral: Cervical extension and stabilization, lumbar extension and stabilization Unilateral: Cervical extension and ipsilateral sidebend, Lumbar extension and ipsilateral sidebend
Iliocostalis cervicis	Ribs 3-7	C4-C6 TP	Spinal nn. Posterior rami (lateral br.) C8 - L1	Bilateral: Extends spine Unilateral: Spine ipsilateral sidebend
Iliocostalis lumborum	Sacrum Iliac crest Thoracolumbar fascia (posterior layer)	Ribs 6-12 Upper lumbar TP Thoracolumbar fascia (posterior layer)	Spinal nn. Posterior rami (lateral br.) C8 - L1	Bilateral: Extends spine Unilateral: Spine ipsilateral sidebend
Iliocostalis thoracis	Ribs 7-12	Ribs 1-6	Spinal nn. Posterior rami (lateral br.) C8 - L1	Bilateral: Extends spine Unilateral: Spine ipsilateral sidebend
Interspinales cervicis	C1-C7 SP of superior segment	C1-C7 SP of inferior segment	Spinal nn. Posterior rami	Cervical: Extension Lumbar: Extension
Interspinales lumbora	L1-L5 SP of superior segment	L1-L5 SP of inferior segment	Spinal nn. Posterior rami	Bilateral: Cervical extension and stabilization, lumbar extension and stabilization Unilateral: Cervical extension and ipsilateral sidebend, Lumbar extension and ipsilateral sidebend
Lateral intertransversarii lumbora	L1-L5 TP of superior segment	L1-L5 TP of inferior segment	Spinal nn. (anterior rami)	Bilateral: Cervical extension and stabilization, lumbar extension and stabilization Unilateral: Cervical extension and ipsilateral sidebend, Lumbar extension and ipsilateral sidebend
Levatores cosatrum breves	C7-T11 TP	Costal angle of next inferior rib	Spinal nn. (posterior rami)	Bilateral: Thoracic extension Unilateral: Thoracic ipsilateral sidebend, contralateral rotation
Levatores costarum longi	C7-T11 TP	Costal angle of rib 2 segments inferior	Spinal nn. (posterior rami)	Bilateral: Thoracic extension Unilateral: Thoracic ipsilateral sidebend, contralateral rotation
Longissimus capitis	T1-T3 TP C4-C7 TP & articular process	Mastoid process	Spinal nn. Posterior rami (lateral br.) C1 - C5	Bilateral: Head extension Unilateral: Ipsilateral head sidebend, Ipsilateral rotation
Longissimus cervicis	T1-T6 TP	C2-C5 TP	Spinal nn. Posterior rami (lateral br.) C1 - C5	Bilateral: Extends spine Unilateral: Ipsilateral spine sidebend
Longissimus thoracis	Sacrum Iliac crest Lumbar vertebrae SP Lower thoracic TP	2-12 Ribs Thoracic TP Lumbar TP	Spinal nn. Posterior rami (lateral br.) C1 - C5	Bilateral: Extends spine Unilateral: Ipsilateral spine sidebend
Medial intertransversarii cervicis
Medial intertransversarii lumbora	L1-L5 Mammillary process of superior segment	L1-L5 Mammillary process of inferior segment	Spinal nn. (posterior rami)	Bilateral: Cervical extension and stabilization, lumbar extension and stabilization Unilateral: Cervical extension and ipsilateral sidebend, Lumbar extension and ipsilateral sidebend
Multifidus
Posterior intertransversarii cervicis	C2-C7 Posterior tubercle of superior segment	C2-C7 Posterior tubercle of superior segment	Spinal nn. (posterior rami)	Bilateral: Cervical extension and stabilization, lumbar extension and stabilization Unilateral: Cervical extension and ipsilateral sidebend, Lumbar extension and ipsilateral sidebend
Rotatores breves
Rotatores longi
Semispinalis capitis
Semispinalis cervicis
Semispinalis thoracis
Serratus posterior inferior
Serratus posterior superior
Spinalis cervicis	C5-T2 SP	C5-T2 SP	Spinal nn. Posterior rami (lateral br.)	Bilateral: Cervical extension, Thoracic extension Unilateral: Cervical ipsilateral sidebend, Thoracic ipsilateral sidebend
Spinalis thoracis	T10-L3 SP and Lateral surfaces	T2-8 SP & Lateral surfaces	Spinal nn. Posterior rami (lateral br.)	Bilateral: Cervical extension, Thoracic extension Unilateral: Cervical ipsilateral sidebend, Thoracic ipsilateral sidebend
Splenius capitis	Nuchal lig. C7-T4 SP	Lateral third of nuchal line Mastoid process	Spinal nn. Posterior rami (lateral br.) C1 - C6	Bilateral: Head and neck extension Unilateral: I/L sidebend, I/L rotation
Splenius cervicis	T3-T7 SP	C1-C4 SP	Spinal nn. Posterior rami (lateral br.) C1 - C6	Bilateral: Head and neck extension Unilateral: I/L sidebend, I/L rotation

References

1.

Gilroy AM, MacPherson BR, Wikenheiser JC, Voll MM, Wesker K, Schünke M, eds. Atlas of Anatomy. 4th ed. Thieme; 2020.