The neck is a part of the body that we use the most in our daily lives, but we don't think about it that much. Do you really know about these neck muscles that help us turn our heads, eat, talk, and even breathe? Today, let's talk simply about why problems like neck sprains , stiffness, and pain sometimes arise. This is like an amazing piece of engineering technology in our body.
What are these neck muscles? What is their function?
Simply put, the neck muscles are part of a complex system of soft tissues and bones (the musculoskeletal system) that connects your skull to your torso. The delicate fibers within these muscles can contract and lengthen. This ability is what allows us to perform a variety of movements.
The muscles in the neck are skeletal muscles . That means they are connected to our bones through tendons. They are also called voluntary muscles . The reason for this is that we can control them as we want, at our own will. Imagine, if you are walking down the street and someone is talking, you turn your head to look in that direction because of these muscles.
Minor injuries to the neck muscles, such as a muscle strain, are usually nothing to worry about, although they can be painful. However, rare serious injuries require immediate medical attention.
Okay, now let's see what service these muscles provide to our body.
- Helping you breathe: When you breathe in, these muscles help lift the ribs at the top of your chest.
- Helping us eat, swallow, and speak: These muscles are essential for controlling the movements we need when we chew, swallow, and speak.
- Facial expressions: Neck muscles also contribute to creating certain facial expressions.
- Head, neck, and upper body movement: These muscles primarily help move your head, neck, shoulder blades, and upper body.
- Supporting the head and spine: These muscles act like a strong frame to support the weight of your head and keep your neck and spine stable.
Where are the neck muscles located?
This muscular system is spread across the front, sides, and back of the neck.
- From the back: These start just below where your skull begins, and extend around your shoulder blades until they meet in the middle of your back.
- Viewed from the front: This muscle starts at the base of your jaw and extends to the collarbone (clavicle) at the top of your chest.
How are the muscles of the neck arranged? Let's look at them in parts.
The muscles of the neck can be divided into three main groups. These are the anterior, lateral, and posterior muscles. These are further divided into subgroups. These names may sound a bit complicated, but once you understand what they are, you will understand their importance.
1. Anterior Neck Muscles
These consist of four main parts.
- Superficial muscles: These are some of the largest muscles in the neck.
- Platysma
- Sternocleidomastoid
- Trapezius
- Suprahyoid muscles: These are located below your jawline. These muscles help you swallow and speak.
- Digastric
- Geniohyoid
- Mylohyoid
- Stylohyoid
- Infrahyoid muscles: These four muscles, located below the hyoid bone, help move your voice box (larynx) up and down.
- Omohyoid
- Sternohyoid
- Sternothyroid
- Thyrohyoid
- Scalene muscles: These muscles move your first two ribs up and down when you breathe. They also help move your head and keep your cervical spine stable.
- Anterior scalene
- Middle scalene
- Posterior scalene
2. Lateral Neck Muscles
These muscles control the movements of the head from the base of the skull. They also help turn the head from side to side, and rotate and tilt the cervical spine.
- Long head
- Long neck
- Rectus capitis anterior
- Rectus capitis lateralis
3. Posterior Neck Muscles
These are also divided into several subcategories.
- Superficial muscles: These strap-like muscles at the back of your neck help you extend and rotate your head.
- Splenius capitis
- Splenius cervicis
- Suboccipital muscles: These are located under the bone at the base of the skull. They help to extend the head in different directions.
- Inferior oblique
- Obliquus capitis superior
- Rectus capitis posterior major
- Rectus capitis posterior minor
- Transversospinalis muscles: These muscles help you move your head forward and backward, as well as tilt it from side to side. They also help stabilize the spine and move the neck, chest, and lumbar regions.
- Interspinales
- Intertransversarii
- Rotators of the neck
- Semispinalis capitis
- Semispinalis cervicalis
What are the common problems and symptoms of neck muscles?
We've all experienced neck pain at some point in our lives. It could be from sleeping in the wrong position, staring at the computer for long periods of time, or an accident. Let's take a look at some of the most common problems and symptoms.
| Problem / symptom | A simple explanation |
|---|---|
| Neck Spasms | This is a sudden, severe contraction of a muscle in the neck. We say ' sprained neck.' This can cause severe pain and inability to move the neck. |
| Muscle Strains | A muscle or tendon is overstretched. This can happen due to things like lifting a weight incorrectly or making a sudden movement. |
| Whiplash | Often, as in a car accident, the head is thrown forward and back violently, causing damage to the soft tissues of the neck. This can be serious. |
| Headache in the back of the head | Pain caused by tight neck muscles can also spread to the back of the head. This is different from a regular headache. |
| Neck stiffness | Difficulty turning the neck to one side, looking up, or looking down. This is most common when you wake up in the morning. |
| Numbness in the hands or fingers | This tingling sensation can travel down the arm due to tight neck muscles or compression of a nerve that runs between the vertebrae. |
| When to seek immediate medical advice | |
In such a situation , do not delay at all and immediately go to a hospital's Emergency Treatment Unit (ETU) or see your doctor. | |
Remember, don't ignore neck pain as something normal. It's important to find the exact cause, especially if it's persistent.
There are about 30 muscles in your neck. They support your head and upper body, and they also help you eat, make facial expressions, and breathe. So it's important to keep these muscles healthy and strong.
Take-Home Message
- Maintain Good Posture: Avoid hunching your neck, especially when using a computer or phone. Try to keep the screen at eye level. Get up and walk around at least once an hour, and turn your neck from side to side.
- Be careful about your sleeping position: Sleeping on your stomach can put unnecessary pressure on your neck. Sleeping on your side or on your back is best. Use a pillow that provides good neck support.
- Listen to your body's signals: Don't ignore persistent neck pain, stiffness, or numbness in your hands. It could be your body's warning sign.
- Seek medical advice: If the pain does not subside after a few days of home treatment, or if the pain is getting worse, be sure to see your doctor. It is best to find out the exact cause and treat it.
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