Scalene muscles 2949602 211097449 2008-05-08T19:48:16Z Richard Pinch 1902818 categorized {{Infobox Muscle | Name = {{PAGENAME}} | Latin = | GraySubject = | GrayPage = | Image = Scalenus.png | Caption = The anterior vertebral muscles. | Image2 = Gray384.png | Caption2 = Section of the neck at about the level of the sixth cervical vertebra. Showing the arrangement of the fascia coli. | Origin = [[cervical vertebrae]] (CII-CVII) | Insertion = first and second [[ribs]] | Blood = [[Ascending cervical artery]] (branch of [[Inferior thyroid artery]])| Nerve = [[cervical nerves]] (C3-C8) | Action = elevation of ribs I&II | Antagonist = | DorlandsPre = | DorlandsSuf = | }} The '''scalene muscles''' are a group of three pairs of [[muscle]]s in the lateral [[neck]], namely the [[scalenus anterior]], [[scalenus medius]], and [[scalenus posterior]]. They are innervated by the [[spinal nerves]] C3-C8. ==Origin and insertion== They originate from the [[transverse processes]] from the [[cervical vertebrae]] of CII to CVII and insert onto the first and second [[rib]]s. Thus they are called the '''lateral vertebral muscles'''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=lYRKAAAAMAAJ&output=html_text|title=Anatomy: Descriptive and Applied|author=Henry Gray|year=1913}}</ref> ==Function== The action of the anterior and middle scalene muscles is to elevate the [[first rib]] and rotate the [[neck]] to the same side;<ref>J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2002 Oct;32(10):488-96 {{cite web|url=http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12403200?ordinalpos=2&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_DiscoveryPanel.Pubmed_RVAbstractPlus|title=PubMed}}</ref> the action of the posterior scalene is to elevate the second rib and tilt the neck to the same side. They also act as accessory muscles of inspiration, along with the [[sternocleidomastoids]]. ==Relations== The scalene muscles have an important relationship to other structures in the neck. The [[brachial plexus]] and [[subclavian artery]] pass between the anterior and middle scalenes. The [[subclavian vein]] and [[phrenic]] nerve pass anteriorly to the anterior scalene as it crosses over the first rib. The passing of the [[brachial plexus]] and the [[subclavian artery]] through the space of the anterior and middle scalene muscles constitute the scalene hiatus (the term "scalene fissure" is also used). The region in which this lies is referred to as the scaleotracheal fossa. It is bound by the [[clavicle]] inferior anteriorly, the trachea medially, posteriorly by the [[trapezius]], and anteriorly by the [[platysma muscle]]. ==References== {{Reflist}} ==See also== * [[Muscle]]s * [[List of muscles of the human body]] * [[Accessory muscles of respiration]] ==Additional images== <gallery> Image:Musculi coli base.svg|Musculi coli base </gallery> The origin of the scalenes is 1st and 2nd ribs The insertion is the transverse processes of c2-c7. [[Category:Human anatomy]] [[Category:Muscles of the head and neck]] [[de:Musculi scaleni]] [[it:Muscoli scaleni]] [[la:Musculi scaleni]] [[ja:斜角筋]] [[pl:Mięśnie pochyłe]] [[sr:Скаленски мишићи]]