What does the longus capitis do?
What does the longus capitis do?
Function. Working synergistically with the other prevertebral muscles and sternocleidomastoid muscle, the longus capitis muscle acts as a weak flexor of the head and cervical spine.
What is the action of longus colli?
The longus colli muscle (‘long muscle of the neck’) is also known as longus cervicis since it spans the entire cervical spine and the first three thoracic vertebrae. By acting on the cervical vertebrae, longus colli is responsible for forward and lateral flexion of the neck, as well as rotation of the neck.
Where does longus capitis attach?
occipital bone
Insertion. The longus capitis muscle inserts in to the basilar part of the occipital bone that is the wedge-like portion of the occipital bone that lies anterior to the foramen magnum. At their insertion at the basiocciput the longus capitis muscles lay adjacent to one another alongside the pharyngeal tubercles.
How do you stretch longus capitis?
Here’s how you do it:
- Sit with your chest up and looking straight ahead.
- Gently push your chin back while looking straight ahead (so that you have a double chin)
- Keep your head upright, don’t look up or down.
- While holding your chin back with one hand, use your other hand to reach over the top of your head.
What causes weak deep neck flexors?
Research has shown that people experiencing chronic neck pain, such as a whiplash injury, have a decrease in strength and endurance in the deep neck flexor muscles. Improper posture also contributes to muscle weakness. A forward head posture causes these muscles to become lengthened, and therefore weakened over time.
What do you need to do or say to your client before you treat the longus colli muscle?
We can tell that we have reached the longus musculature by feeling for the hardness of the cervical vertebrae directly deep to the muscle tissue. If we want confirmation that we are on the longus muscles, we can ask the client to engage the musculature by gently lifting the head toward the ceiling (Figure 18).
What muscle turns your neck?
sternocleidomastoids
The sternocleidomastoids (SCMs) are superficially located neck muscles that play an important role in tilting your head and turning your neck, as well as other movements. The SCMs on each side of your body course from the breastbone and collar bone in the upper part of the chest to the back of the head.
Which muscles restore the head to its natural position?
The longus capitis and rectus capitis anterior are the direct antagonists of the muscles at the back of the neck, serving to restore the head to its natural position after it has been drawn backward. These muscles also flex the head, and from their obliquity, rotate it, so as to turn the face to one or the other side.