Contents
Anatomy
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
- Deep
Origin
- Ligamentum nuchea C3-C6
- Processus spinosi C7-Th4
Insertion
- Processus mastoideus
- Linea nuchae superior
- Lateral 1/3
Main function
- Neck
- Extension
- Lateral flexion
- Ipsilateral rotation
Nerve innervation
- Segmental
- C2-C6
- Peripheral
- Dorsal rami of the middle cervical spinal nerve
Arterial supply
- Occipital artery
Palpation
- Patient position
- Sitting
- Most of the splenius capitis is deep to both the trapezius and sternocleidomastoideus
- Palpate and locate the posterior aspect of sternocleidomastoideus and anterior aspect of upper trapezius
- Palpate superiorly in the triangle between these two muscles
- The patient is asked to rotate the head ipsilaterally while the therapist feels for contraction of the muscle
- The muscle can be palpated further superiorly where it is positioned deep in comparison with sternocleidomastoideus, and caudally where it is deep to upper parts of trapezius
Strength test
- This test is not an isolated test for splenius captis, but also involves the splenius cervicis, semispinalis capitis and cervicis and the cervical aspect of erector spinae
- Patient position
- Prone
- Place the patient's neck in a posterolateral extension position, the rotated towards the side which is to be tested
- The therapist gives resistance in an anterior direction towards the posterolateral aspect of the head