Muscle · Neck

Splenius capitis

Musculus splenius capitis

Splenius capitis is a broad, flat strap that wraps the back of the neck like a bandage, running upward and outward from the ligament and spinous processes at the base of the neck to the mastoid process and the skull behind the ear. Both sides together extend the head and neck; one side alone turns the face toward the same side and side-bends it that way. It is one of the superficial extensors that carry the load when the deep neck flexors are not holding the head up, and Momentum's system names forward head posture and phone and computer use as exactly the loads that keep this layer working.