Cervical part of muscular system

The cervical part of muscular system comprises the muscles of the neck, which support the head, facilitate movements of the cervical spine, and assist in respiration, swallowing, and phonation.

• Superficially, the platysma covers the anterior neck, aiding facial expression.

• The sternocleidomastoid and scalene muscles (anterior, middle, posterior, and occasionally scalenus minimus) flex, laterally bend, and rotate the neck, also elevating the ribs during inspiration.

• Deep anterior (prevertebral) muscles include the longus colli and longus capitis, which flex the cervical vertebrae and head.

• The rectus capitis anterior and lateralis provide fine head movements and stability at the atlanto-occipital joint, while the suboccipital group (rectus capitis posterior major and minor, obliquus capitis superior and inferior) control extension and rotation of the head.

• The suprahyoid muscles (digastric, stylohyoid, mylohyoid, geniohyoid) elevate the hyoid and floor of the mouth during swallowing.

• The infrahyoid muscles (sternohyoid, omohyoid, sternothyroid, thyrohyoid, and sometimes levator glandulae thyroideae) depress the hyoid and larynx after swallowing.

• The pharyngeal and laryngeal muscles form the muscular walls of the pharynx and larynx, functioning in swallowing, speech, and airway protection.

Together, these muscles integrate postural, respiratory, and visceral functions essential to cervical and upper aerodigestive physiology.