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Scalenius medius

Contents

Anatomy

 

Scalenius posterior
Scalenius middle
Scalenius anterior

General information

  • This section is strictly limited to anatomy, you might be looking for clinical relevant information which is found under the clinical chapters -- muscles section, click here to go to that page

Position

  • Partly superficial

Origin

  • Processus transversi C2-C7

Insertion

  • 1. rib

Main function

  • Neck
    • Lateral flexion
    • Flexion
  • 1st rib
    • Elevation

Nerve innervation

  • C3-C8

Arterial supply

  • Transverse cervical artery

Palpation

  • Patient position
    • Sitting
  • Localize and palpate the lateral aspect of the sternocleidomastoideus
  • Follow the lateral limitation of sternocleidomastoideus inferiorly until you are just above the clavicula
  • Ask the patient to perform fast shallow breaths through the nose while you feel for contraction of the muscles of both the anterior and middle scaleni
    • Of the two muscles, the scaleni medius is lateral