Muscles / Head & neck
Longus colli
- Head & neck
- Neck
- Deep layer
Anatomy
- Origin
- Anterior tubercles of C3-C5 transverse processes; bodies of C5-T3
- Insertion
- Anterior tubercle of the atlas; bodies of C2-C4; transverse processes of C5-C6
- Nerve
- Anterior rami of cervical spinal nerves (C2-C6)
Actions
- Flexes the cervical spine
- Supports the cervical lordosis and segments
- Assists rotation and lateral flexion
Notes
- A deep cervical flexor. Reduced activation and endurance are common in neck pain and after whiplash.
- Assessed and trained with the craniocervical flexion test: five progressive stages on a pressure biofeedback unit (22-30 mmHg).
References (6)
- Jull GA, O'Leary SP, Falla DL. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 2008;31(7):525-533. Clinical assessment of the deep cervical flexor muscles: the craniocervical flexion test
- Jull G, Trott P, Potter H, et al. Spine. 2002;27(17):1835-1843. A randomized controlled trial of exercise and manipulative therapy for cervicogenic headache
- Standring S, ed. Elsevier. Gray's Anatomy: The Anatomical Basis of Clinical Practice. 42nd ed.
- Dalley AF, Agur AMR. Wolters Kluwer. Moore's Clinically Oriented Anatomy. 9th ed.
- Neumann DA. Elsevier. Kinesiology of the Musculoskeletal System: Foundations for Rehabilitation. 3rd ed.
- Betts JG, Young KA, Wise JA, et al. OpenStax (free, openly licensed textbook). Anatomy and Physiology 2e