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MuscleNeckintermediateBeyond Cert IVDraft

Semispinalis capitisMusculus 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.

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LatinMusculus semispinalis capitis
Origin
  • Tips of the transverse processes of the upper six or seven thoracic vertebrae
  • Transverse process of C7 and articular processes of C4–C6
Insertion
  • Occipital bone between the superior and inferior nuchal lines
Action
  • Both sides: extend the head and help extend the neck
  • One side: tilts the head to the same side and turns the face slightly to the opposite side
NerveDorsal rami of the cervical spinal nerves, including the greater occipital nerve (Cervical dorsal rami (the greater occipital nerve is from C2))

Palpation

  1. Client prone with the forehead in the face cradle, or supine with the head in your hands.
  2. Place the fingertips about a finger-width lateral to the cervical spinous processes, just below the occiput.
  3. Feel through the trapezius for a firm, round vertical column running up to the back of the skull.
  4. Ask the client (prone) to lift the head very slightly; feel the column harden.

Landmarks: External occipital protuberance · C7 spinous process

Semispinalis capitis is the thick column you feel on each side of the spine at the back of the neck, deep to Trapezius and Splenius capitis. Near the skull it covers the Suboccipitals. The greater occipital nerve passes through it on its way to the scalp.

It is easy to confuse with the upper Erector spinae (longissimus capitis). Semispinalis is closer to the midline and attaches to the occipital bone, while longissimus capitis lies lateral to it and runs to the Mastoid process.

Sources differ slightly on its origin. Wikipedia gives the upper six thoracic transverse processes plus the articular and transverse processes of the lower four cervical vertebrae. Gray’s (1918) gives the upper six or seven thoracic and C7 transverse processes plus the articular processes of C4–C6.

Techniques

  • Circular friction — Small circles made with the finger or thumb pads that move the skin over the deeper tissue without sliding, to work a specific spot.
  • Compression — Pressing straight down into a muscle with the palm, fist or forearm, holding briefly, then releasing and moving on.
  • Stripping — A slow, deep, narrow glide along the length of a single muscle with the thumb, knuckle or elbow, pausing over tight bands on the way.

Works with

  • 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.
  • Trapezius — Large diamond-shaped muscle of the upper back and neck that moves and stabilises the scapula.
  • Erector spinae — Three long columns of muscle (iliocostalis, longissimus and spinalis) running beside the spine from the sacrum to the skull that extend and side-bend the back and hold the trunk upright.

Opposes

  • Longus colli — Deep muscle on the front of the cervical and upper thoracic spine that flexes the neck and slightly rotates it.
  • Sternocleidomastoid — Large, superficial rope-like muscle on the side of the neck that turns the head to the opposite side and bends the neck.

Used in routines

Sources

  1. Wikipedia, Semispinalis muscles
  2. Wikipedia, Greater occipital nerve
  3. Gray's Anatomy (1918), IV. Myology 6a: The Deep Muscles of the Back (Public domain; Bartleby edition read via the Internet Archive.)
  4. Gray's Anatomy (1918), IV. Myology 6b: The Suboccipital Muscles (actions of the semispinales) (Public domain; Bartleby edition read via the Internet Archive.)