Scalene muscles

The scalene muscles are a group of three muscles on each side of the neck, identified as the anterior, the middle, and the posterior. They are innervated by the third to the eighth cervical spinal nerves (C3-C8).

Scalene muscles
The anterior vertebral muscles.
Details
OriginCervical vertebrae (CII-CVII)
InsertionFirst and second ribs
ArteryAscending cervical artery
(branch of Inferior thyroid artery)
NerveCervical nerves (C3-C8)
ActionsElevation of first and second ribs
Identifiers
Latinmm. scalenii
Anatomical terms of muscle

The anterior and middle scalene muscles lift the first rib and bend the neck to the side they are on. The posterior scalene lifts the second rib and tilts the neck to the same side.

The muscles are named from Ancient Greek σκαληνός (skalēnós) 'uneven'.

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