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
- Processus spinosi Th3-Th6
Insertion
- Processus transversi C1-C3
Main function
- Neck
- Extension
- Lateral flexion
- Ipsilateral rotation
Nerve innervation
- Dorsale rami of the lower cervical spinal nerves
Arterial supply
- Occipital artery
Palpation
- Patient position
- Sitting
- Splenius cervicis is deep compared to other muscles and is therefore difficult to palpate
- The best area to palpate the muscle is at C5-C7, where it is only deep to the trapezius
- Localize and place a hand just medial to levator scapula
- This position is just inferior to where splenius capitis can be palpated
- The patient is asked to rotate the neck to his/her ipsilateral side while the therapist feels for contraction of the muscle
Strength test
- The test is not isolated to only splenius cervicis, but also involves the splenius capitis, semispinalis capitis and the cervical aspect of the erector spinae
- Patient position
- Prone
- The patient's neck is placed in a posterolateral extension position, the head rotated towards the side which is to be tested
- The therapist gives resistance in an anterior direction towards the posterolateral aspect of the head