Longus capitis muscle

Last revised by Chris Farmer on 15 Dec 2024

Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data

Citation:

Ariyasinghe C, Farmer C, Hacking C, et al. Longus capitis muscle. Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 15 Mar 2025) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-38145

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-38145

Permalink:

https://radiopaedia.org/articles/38145?embed_domain=hackmd.io%252525252F%2525252540yipuafecsl2jsu8smr5njq%252525252Fbnjhjgjghjghjgh

rID:

38145

Article created:

8 Jul 2015, Chamath Ariyasinghe

Disclosures:

At the time the article was created Chamath Ariyasinghe had no recorded disclosures.

View Chamath Ariyasinghe's current disclosures

Last revised:

15 Dec 2024, Chris Farmer

Disclosures:

At the time the article was last revised Chris Farmer had no financial relationships to ineligible companies to disclose.

View Chris Farmer's current disclosures

Revisions:

9 times, by 5 contributors - see full revision history and disclosures

Systems:

Head & Neck

Sections:

Anatomy

The longus capitis muscle is a prevertebral muscle of the neck that is innervated by muscular branches of the cervical plexus. In isolation longus capitis acts to laterally flex and rotate the head.

origin: anterior tubercles of C3-C6 transverse processes
insertion: inferior surface of the basilar part of the occipital bone
innervation: anterior rami of C1-C3 spinal nerves from the cervical plexus
action:
- bilaterally longus capitis acts as a weak flexor of the head and cervical vertebrae
- unilateral action of the longus capitis muscle serves to rotate and tilt the cervical vertebrae and head to the ipsilateral side.

Gross anatomy

Origin

The longus capitis muscle is an anterior vertebral muscle and originates from four slender tendons (in line with those of the anterior scalene muscle) from the anterior tubercles of C3 to C6 transverse processes.

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.

Relations

The prevertebral fascia extends from the base of the skull in front of the longus capitis and rectus capitis lateralis muscles, it extends as far inferiorly as the lower limit of the longus colli muscle at the body of the T3 vertebra.

Retropharyngeal lymph nodes lie at the level of the lateral mass of the atlas and along the lateral aspect of the longus capitus muscles.

The anterior ramus of C1 emerges lateral to the atlanto-occipital joint then passes between the rectus capitis anterior and rectus capitis lateralis muscles before penetrating and supplying the longus capitis muscle. The nerve then gives a branch to the hypoglossal nerve.

Blood supply

The longus capitis muscle receives its blood supply from muscular branches of the ascending cervical artery and the inferior thyroid artery.

Nerve supply

The longus capitis muscle is innervated by anterior rami of the C1 to C3 spinal nerves from the cervical plexus.

Action

The longus capitis muscle works synergistically with longus colli and scalene muscles as a weak flexor of the head and cervical spine. The action of the muscle is assisted by gravity and by the powerful sternocleidomastoid muscles.