Trail Guide to Body Practice Test

In the neck, muscles in this region are arranged from superficial to deep, and the splenius capitis sits in a shallow layer relative to the other deep extensors. Its fibers lie just beneath the trapezius and are close to the surface between the trapezius and the sternocleidomastoid, making it the muscle you can access more readily in that area. It runs from the lower part of the nuchal ligament and the spinous processes of C7 to T4 up to the mastoid process and the occipital bone, so its action is to extend, rotate, and laterally flex the head. The deeper muscles in the same region, like the semispinalis capitis, lie farther inward, the splenius cervicis stays deeper in the neck, and the longus capitis sits in the prevertebral layer in front of the vertebral column. Because of its more superficial position in that region, the splenius capitis is the best choice.