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Related Concept Videos

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The muscles that move the head are a dynamic and complex group of structures that work together to facilitate a wide range of head movements, including rotation, flexion, extension, and lateral bending.
The bilateral sternocleidomastoid, or SCM, and the suprahyoid and infrahyoid muscles are significant head flexors. The SCM muscles originate at the sternum and clavicle and attach to the mastoid process of the temporal bone. The SCM contracts bilaterally to bend the head forward, whereas...
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The superior view of the cranium shows the frontal and paired parietal bones.
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In addition to being held together by the intervertebral discs, adjacent vertebrae also articulate with each other at synovial joints formed between the superior and inferior articular processes called zygapophysial joints (facet joints). These are plane joints that provide for only limited motions between the vertebrae. The orientation of the articular processes at these joints varies in different regions of the vertebral column and serves to determine the types of motions available in each...
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The back muscles that lie deep into the thoracolumbar fascia are called intrinsic or true back muscles. These muscles are divided into four layers: superficial, intermediate, deep, and deepest layers.
Superficial Layer:
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The anterior neck muscles are the group of muscles covering the front part of the neck. These muscles are classified into three subgroups. The first one is the superficial muscles, the most visible muscles in the front of the neck. It includes the platysma and sternocleidomastoid. The second group is the suprahyoid muscles, located above the hyoid bone. This group comprises the digastric, mylohyoid, geniohyoid, and stylohyoid. Lastly, the infrahyoid muscles are found below the hyoid bone and...
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Muscles of the Shoulder01:23

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The muscles surrounding the shoulder girdle, including the clavicle and scapula, primarily stabilize the scapula. This stable base allows other muscles to move the humerus effectively. Scapular movements often mirror those of the humerus and extend its range of motion. For instance, raising the arm above the head would not be feasible without simultaneous upward rotation of the scapula.
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Related Experiment Video

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Resting-State Connectivity and Neuroimaging of Prefrontal Cortex Activity During a Block-Design Yoga Asana Practice Using fNIRS
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Forward Head Posture and Activation of Rectus Capitis Posterior Muscles.

Richard C Hallgren, Steven J Pierce, Dhruv B Sharma

    The Journal of the American Osteopathic Association
    |January 6, 2017
    PubMed
    Summary

    The Rectus capitis posterior (RCP) muscles activate significantly more during forward head movements, suggesting a role in stabilizing the upper neck joints. This finding may explain headaches linked to RCP muscle atrophy.

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    Area of Science:

    • Neuromuscular biomechanics
    • Head and neck anatomy
    • Clinical electromyography

    Background:

    • Rectus capitis posterior (RCP) muscles attach to the dura mater, a pain-sensitive structure in the spine.
    • Muscle atrophy in RCP is observed in some chronic headache patients, but their functional role is poorly understood.
    • The study investigates the functional significance of RCP muscles in head movement and stability.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To assess electromyographic activity changes in RCP muscles during voluntary head movements.
    • To determine if head protrusion alters RCP muscle activation levels.
    • To investigate the functional role of RCP muscles in head stabilization.

    Main Methods:

    • Intramuscular electromyography (EMG) using fine-wire electrodes was employed.
    • Asymptomatic participants performed voluntary head movements from neutral to protruded positions.
    • Data analysis involved mixed-effects regression models for normalized EMG activity.

    Main Results:

    • EMG activity in RCP muscles significantly increased during head protrusion (P<.001).
    • Activation levels rose from 11-14% MVIC in neutral to 35-39% MVIC in protruded positions.
    • This demonstrates a clear functional response of RCP muscles to head posture changes.

    Conclusions:

    • Rectus capitis posterior muscles likely contribute to segmental stabilization of the upper cervical spine.
    • They may play a role in maintaining joint congruency during head movements.
    • Findings suggest RCP muscles are crucial for upper neck stability and may be implicated in headache pathophysiology.