The group of the deep neck muscles forms the prevertebral musculatur, which consits of the Musculus longus capitis, the Musculus longus colli, the Musculus rectus capitis anterior as well as the Musculus rectus capitis lateralis. The can rotate the cervical spine, respectively in both sided action tilt for and backwards, or turn the head to the side or to the front.

Cervical Spine(CS)

Prevertebrale Musculatur

Musculus longus capitis

Origin
(Tubercula anteriora der) transverse process of the cervical vertebra 3 to 6
Projection
(Pars basilaris des) Os occipitale
Function
Onesided:
Lateral flexion and minor rotation of the head ipsi lateral Side

Bothsided:
Ventral flexion of the head
Innervation
direkt branches out of the Plexus Cervicalis
Spinal Segments
C2-C6

Musculus longus colli

Origin
Pars obliqua superior:
- (Tubercula anteriora der)
transverse process of the cervical vertebra 3 to 5
Pars recta:
- Front of the cervical vertebra 5 to 7
- Front of the thoracic vertebra 1 to 3
Pars obliqua inferior:
- Front of the thoracic vertebra 1 to 3
Projection
Pars obliqua:
- (Tuberculum anterius des)
Atlas
Pars recta:
- Front of the cervical vertebra 2 to 4
Pars obliqua:
- (Tubercula anteriora der)
transverse process of the cervical vertebra 5 to 6
Function
Onesided:
Lateral flexion and rotation of the cervical spine to the ipsi lateralen side bothsided:
Ventral flexion of the cervical spine
Innervation
Ramus ventralis des ersten Nervus cervicalis
Spinal Segment
C1

Musculus rectus capitis anterior

Origin
Ala atlantis
Projection
occipital bone
Function
Bending of atlantoaxial joint (bothsided)
Innervation
erster Spinalnerv
Spinal Segment
C1

Musculus rectus capitis lateralis

Origin
Ala atlantis
Projection
Processus jugularis
Function
dorsal keeping up of the head (bothsided); tilting of the head (onesided contraction)
Innervation
Nervus suboccipitalis
Spinal Segment
C1