Longus Capitis
Musculus longus capitis
A deep anterior muscle that flexes the head on the upper cervical spine and stabilizes the craniocervical junction. Together with longus colli it forms the deep cervical flexor system trained through craniocervical flexion (chin tucks) for head/neck posture and injury resilience.
- Actions
- Flexion of the head at the atlanto-occipital joint, Cervical flexion, Deep cervical stabilization
- Origin
- Anterior tubercles of the transverse processes of C3-C6.
- Insertion
- Inferior surface of the basilar part of the occipital bone.
- Innervation
- Anterior rami of the cervical spinal nerves (C1-C3).
- Blood supply
- Ascending cervical, inferior thyroid, and vertebral arteries.