Massage.
MuscleNeckdeepBeyond Cert IVDraft

Longus colliMusculus longus colli

Deep muscle on the front of the cervical and upper thoracic spine that flexes the neck and slightly rotates it.

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LatinMusculus longus colli
Origin
  • Superior oblique part: anterior tubercles of the transverse processes of C3–C5
  • Inferior oblique part: front of the bodies of T1–T3
  • Vertical part: front of the bodies of C5–C7 and T1–T3
Insertion
  • Superior oblique part: anterior tubercle of the atlas (C1)
  • Inferior oblique part: anterior tubercles of the transverse processes of C5–C6
  • Vertical part: front of the bodies of C2–C4
Action
  • Flexes the neck
  • Slightly rotates the cervical spine
NerveVentral rami of the cervical spinal nerves (C2–C6)
NameLatin for 'long (muscle) of the neck'.

Palpation

  1. Client supine with the head supported and the neck slightly flexed so the front of the neck is soft.
  2. Longus colli lies behind the throat on the front of the vertebrae, so it is not felt directly in a relaxation massage; feel its action instead.
  3. Rest a hand lightly under the head and ask the client to tuck the chin in with a small nod, without lifting the head; the sternocleidomastoid should stay soft while the deep neck flexors work.
  4. Direct palpation, between the sternocleidomastoid and the trachea and away from the carotid pulse, is advanced remedial work. Learn it only under supervision.

Longus colli is one of the “deep neck flexors” that physiotherapists and remedial therapists talk about. It lies on the front of the spine, behind the throat, and balances the extensors at the back of the neck, such as Semispinalis capitis and the Suboccipitals. Wikipedia notes that it is commonly injured in rear-end whiplash.

In relaxation massage you do not work it directly. The front of the neck holds the carotid artery, jugular vein, trachea and thyroid. It is included here so you can understand neck posture and how it relates to the more superficial Sternocleidomastoid.

The sources differ on the nerve roots. Wikipedia gives C2–C6, while Gray’s (1918) gives branches from the second to the seventh cervical nerves.

Techniques

  • Passive range of motion — The therapist moves a joint slowly through its easy, comfortable range while the client stays completely relaxed.

Works with

  • Sternocleidomastoid — Large, superficial rope-like muscle on the side of the neck that turns the head to the opposite side and bends the neck.
  • Scalenes — Three paired muscles (anterior, middle and posterior) at the side of the neck that side-bend the neck and lift the first two ribs in deep breathing.

Opposes

  • Semispinalis capitis — Thick, rope-like muscle beside the cervical spine, deep to trapezius and splenius, that extends the head and helps tilt and turn it.
  • Splenius capitis — Broad, strap-like muscle at the back of the neck that extends the head and turns and tilts it to the same side.
  • Suboccipitals — Four small paired muscles between the base of the skull and the top two vertebrae that fine-tune extension, tilting and turning of the head.

Sources

  1. Wikipedia, Longus colli muscle
  2. Gray's Anatomy (1918), IV. Myology 5d: The Anterior Vertebral Muscles (Public domain; Bartleby edition read via the Internet Archive.)