Show Muscles are named according to their shape, location, or a combination. They are further categorized according function such as flexion, extension, or rotation. Muscles and ligaments work together to support the spine, hold it upright, and control movement during rest and activity.
Skeletal muscle is striated (striped) in appearance. It is innervated, under voluntary control, and has the fastest contraction rate of all muscle. Prior to a muscle contracting, a nerve impulse originates in the brain and travels through the spinal cord to the muscle. Energy is needed for the muscle to contract (work). Mitochondria (cellular level) produce ATP (adenosine triphosphate), a chemical cells need for energy. ATP is produced as the mitochondria burn glucose (sugar). Blood vessels deliver the oxygen and nutrients the mitochondria needs to provide a steady supply of ATP. Muscles of the Posterior Cervical and Upper Thoracic Spine
Muscles of the Spinal Column
Muscle FasciaFascia is thickened connective tissue that envelops a muscle or a group of muscles. Superficial fascia is found directly under the skin. Epimysium is the fascia closest to the muscle. Perimysium divides the muscle into facicles – muscle fibers. Endomysium is another type of connective tissue that covers each muscle fiber. Notes: This article was originally published June 7, 2001 and most recently updated May 15, 2019.
Watch Cervical Muscle Anatomy Animation Neck muscles help support the cervical spine and contribute to movements of the head, neck, upper back, and shoulders. Here are some of the key muscles attached to the cervical spine:
See Forward Head Posture’s Effect on Neck Muscles There are numerous other muscles connected to the neck, which all work in concert with tendons (connect muscles to bones) and ligaments (connect bones to bones). If a neck muscle is strained, it can become painful, tight, and possibly lead to a stiff neck. See Stiff Neck Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment Ligaments are durable soft tissues that connect bones together. There are many ligaments in the neck, but 3 types are important for helping to stabilize the entire spine:
The ligamentum flava are a pair of ligaments that connect the laminae (bony vertebral arches) of adjacent vertebrae at the back wall of the spinal canal. There are numerous other ligaments that play a part in holding neck bones together, which is crucial for other neck functions to occur, such as facilitating blood flow through the cervical spine. Blood Supply of the Cervical SpineThe vertebral artery is critical to supplying blood from the heart to the brain and spinal cord. A right and left vertebral artery travel up the cervical spine symmetrically. The vertebral artery typically follows this general path:
Once inside the spinal cord, the right and left vertebral arteries join in the basilar artery to supply the brainstem. There are also many arteries that branch off the various levels of the vertebral arteries to send blood to the spinal cord, bones, joints, and other areas. If a vertebral artery starts to become compressed due to spinal degeneration or injury, it can cause neck pain, headache, and/or possibly dizziness. |