Origin
C7, T1-T3 vertebrae, nuchal ligament.
Insertion
Mastoid process of temporal bone, occipital bone.
Blood supply
Aorta
Nerve supply
C3, C4 nerves.
Action
It helps to shake your head, straighten your head and bend the head towards back.
Disease/Injury
Whiplash injury means injury to the neck muscle due to sudden jerk; mostly happens in vehicle accidents. This causes pain in the back and upper part of head with pain travelling to the back of eyes; causing blurred vision indicates splenius capitis muscle injury.
Muscle Exercise
To strengthen this muscle you can perform chin-to-chest exercise. Sit on a chair and drop your head forward as much as possible so that your chin touches your chest. Keep both your hands on your head so that your fingertips hold your head, exhale and put pressure on the neck muscles to stretch it more. Hold it for 1 to 2 minutes and then rotate the head to right and left and hold the position every time for 1 to 2 minutes.
Interesting facts
This muscle mainly contributes in migraine headaches.
