Serratus ventralis cervicis muscle

Musculus serratus ventralis cervicis

  • Synonym: Cervical ventral serrate muscle

Definition

The ventral serrate muscle of the neck is a serrated, fan-shaped muscle extending from transverse processes of caudal cervical vertebrae to the facies serrata of the scapula. 

Origin: Facies serrata of the scapula.

Insertion: Transverse processes of the last five cervical vertebrae

Action: Support of the trunk, to carry the trunk forward and backward; to carry the shoulder forward and backward with respect to the limb.

Nerve: Ventral branches of cervical nerves.

 

Note from author: In some species (mainly in carnivores), the ventral serrate muscle of the neck (serratus ventralis cervicis) and the ventral serrate muscle of the thorax (serratus ventralis thoracis) are continuous together, and described together. We think it's not a convenient way because:

  • The ventral and dorsal serrate muscles are well separated by the dorsal scalene muscle.
  • In human, the homologous muscles are two different muscles: the ventral serrate muscle of the neck is the levator of scapula and the ventral serrate muscle of the thorax is the serratus anterior muscle
  • The hierarchy (taxonomy parents), is not the same in the Vth NAV (muscles of the neck or muscle of the thorax).

References

Text by Antoine Micheau, MD - Copyright IMAIOS Veterinary Anatomy of Domestic Mammals: Textbook and Colour Atlas, Sixth Edition - Horst Erich König, Hans-Georg Liebich - Schattauer - ISBN-13: 978-3794528332 Illustrated Veterinary Anatomical Nomenclature - 3rd edittion - Gheorghe M. Constantinescu, Oskar Schaller - Enke

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