Muscles of the Head and Neck – Chart for Massage Therapists
| Neck | ||||
| Sternocleidomastoid |
Manubrium of sternum, medial 1/3 of clavicle | Mastoid processes of temporal bone |
Unilaterally- Lateral flexion to same side and rotation to opposite sideBilaterally- flexion of head and neck | Laying prone -Turn head to side and have client lift head toward ceiling; SCM’s will pop out |
| Platysma | Fascia covering superior part of pectoralis major and deltoid | Edge of mandible, skin of lower part of face |
Assists in depressing mandible and tightens the fascia of neck depresses lower lip. | |
| Scalenes-anterior , medius, posterior | Anterior- transverse processes C3-C6Middle- transverse processes of C2-C7
Posterior- Transverse processes of C5-C7 |
Anterior- first ribMiddle- first rib
Posterior- second rib |
Bilaterally – elevate ribs during inhalationUnilaterally- with rib fixed, laterally flexes the neck, rotates head and neck to opposite side
Anterior- flexes the neck |
Brachial plexus and subclavian artery pass between the middle and anterior scalene. |
| Longissumus Capitis | C3-C6 transverse processses | Base of occipital bone | Flexion of head | |
| Splenius capitis | Spinous processes of C7-T3 | Mastoid process of temporal bone and superior nuchal line of occiput |
Bilaterally- extends neck and headUnilaterally- rotates the head to the same side | Palpate between trapezius and SCM above levator scapula.Wrap around deeper neck muscles. |
| Splenius cervicis | Spinous processes of T3-T6 | Transverse processes of C1-C4 |
Bilaterally-extends neckUnilaterally- Rotates head to same side | |
| Suprahyoids | Styloid process, underside of mandible | Hyoid bone | Elevate hyoid and tongue, depress mandible | Important in chewing, swallowing and speaking. |
| Infrahyoids | Manubrium, superior border of scapula | Hyoid bone, thyroid cartilage |
Depresses (pulls downward) hyoid bone and thyroid cartilage | |
| Head | ||||
| Sub occipital muscles | ||||
| Occipitofrontalis | Galea aponeurotica (broad sheath of connective tissue that stretches across the cranium)Skin over eyebrows
Superior nuchal line of occiput |
Galea aponeuroticaSkin over eyebrows
Superior nuchal l |
Raises eyebrows and wrinkles foreheadAnchors and retracts the galea posteriorly | Creates expression of “Surprise” |
| Temporalis | Lateral surface of the temporal bone (temporal fossa and temporal fascia) | Mandible (coronoid process and ramus) |
Elevates and retracts mandible; Clenches teeth | Active in TMJ problems, tooth grinding and headaches |
| Masseter | Zygomatic arch | Ramus and angle of mandible |
Elevates mandible in chewing,Closes jaw and assists in protraction. Clenches teeth. | Strongest muscle in proportion to its size. |
| Buccinator | Maxilla, mandible | Lips | Maintains cheeks near teeth and food in position for chewing | |
| Pterygoids –lateral | Upper head: from infratemporal surfce of greater wing of sphenoidLower head: from lateral surface of lateral ptergoid plate | Front of neck of mandibular condyle and capsule of mandibular joint |
Protrudes mandible, pulls articular disc forward, assists in rotary motion while chewing. | Active in TMJ, tooth grinding and headaches |
| Pterygoids- medial | Medial surface of lateral pterygoid plate and pyramidal process of palatine bone, small slip from tuberosity of maxilla | Lower and back part of medial surface of ramus and angle of mandible |
Protracts and elevates lower jaw, assists in rotary motion while chewing. | Active in TMJ, tooth grinding and headaches. |
| Orbicularis oculi | Medial portions of orbit | Skin of eyelids | Closes the eye | |
| Orbicularis oris | Maxilla, mandible, lips, buccinatior | Mucous membranes, muscles inserting into lips |
Closes lips |
