| Longus capitis muscle | |
|---|---|
 The anterior vertebral muscles. | |
| Details | |
| Origin | Anterior tubercles of the transverse processes of the third, fourth, fifth, and sixth cervical vertebræ |
| Insertion | Basilar part of the occipital bone |
| Artery | Ascending cervical artery, ascending pharyngeal artery, vertebral artery |
| Nerve | C1-C3 |
| Actions | Flexion of neck at atlanto-occipital joint |
| Identifiers | |
| Latin | musculus longus capitis |
| TA98 | A04.2.01.003 |
| TA2 | 2149 |
| FMA | 46308 |
| Anatomical terms of muscle | |
The longus capitis muscle (Latin for long muscle of the head, alternatively rectus capitis anticus major) is broad and thick above, narrow below, and arises by four tendinous slips, from the anterior tubercles of the transverse processes of the third, fourth, fifth, and sixth cervical vertebræ, and ascends, converging toward its fellow of the opposite side, to be inserted into the inferior surface of the basilar part of the occipital bone.
It is innervated by the anterior rami of the first to third cervical spinal nerves (C1–C3).
Longus capitis has several actions:
acting unilaterally, to:
- flex the head and neck laterally
- rotate the head ipsilaterally
acting bilaterally:
- flex the head and neck
