Superficial muscles	Platysma: arises from skin/fascia of infra- and supraclavicular regions, attaches to mandible and skin/subcutaneous tissue of lower face; innervated by facial nerve (CN VII) Function: muscle of facial expression Sternocleidomastoid muscle: manubrium of sternum (sternal head) and medial third of clavicle (clavicular head), attaches to mastoid process of temporal bone and superior nuchal line of occipital bone; innervated by accessory nerve (CN XI) and spinal nerves C2 and C3 Function: ipsilateral flexion and contralateral rotation of neck (unilateral contraction), flexion/extension of neck (bilateral contraction)
Scalene muscles	Scalenus anterior: runs from transverse processes of vertebrae C3-C6 to scalene tubercle/superior border rib 1; innervated by anterior rami of spinal nerves C4-C6 Scalenus medius: runs from transverse processes of vertebrae C1/C2 -> C7 (specifically posterior tubercles of transverse processes of vertebrae in C3-C7) to superior border of rib 1; innervated by anterior rami of spinal nerves C3-C8 Scalenus posterior: runs from transverse processes of vertebrae C5-C7 to external surface of rib 2; innervated by anterior rami of spinal nerves C6-C8 Function: ipsilateral flexion and contralateral rotation of neck (unilateral contraction), neck flexion (bilateral contraction), elevate rib 1 (anterior and middle scalene) and rib 2 (posterior scalene)
Suprahyoid muscles	Digastric: arises from digastric fossa of mandible (anterior belly) and mastoid notch of temporal bone (posterior belly), attaches to body of hyoid bone; innervated by inferior alveolar nerve (anterior belly) and facial nerve (posterior belly) Mylohyoid: runs from mylohyoid line of mandible to body of hyoid bone; innervated by inferior alveolar nerve (CN V3) Geniohyoid: runs from inferior mental spine to body of hyoid bone; innervated by hypoglossal nerve (CN XII) Stylohyoid: runs from styloid process of temporal bone to body of hyoid bone; innervated by facial nerve (CN VII) Function: elevate hyoid bone and move the larynx and pharynx, thus aiding deglutition and voice production (if mandible is fixed); depress the mandible and assist in opening of the mouth (if hyoid bone is fixed)
Infrahyoid muscles	Sternohyoid: runs from manubrium of sternum and medial end of clavicle to inferior border of body of hyoid bone; innervated by anterior rami of spinal nerves C1-C3 (via ansa cervicalis) Sternothyroid: runs from manubrium of sternum and costal cartilage of rib 1 to oblique line of thyroid cartilage; innervated by anterior rami of spinal nerves C1-C3 (via ansa cervicalis) Thyrohyoid: runs from oblique line of thyroid cartilage to inferior border of body and greater horn of hyoid bone; innervated by spinal nerve C1 (via hypoglossal nerve (CN XII) Omohyoid: inferior belly extends from superior border of scapula to intermediate tendon, superior belly extends from intermediate tendon to body of hyoid bone; innervated by anterior rami of spinal nerves C1-C3 (via ansa cervicalis) Function: depress hyoid bone and larynx after they have been elevated by the suprahyoid muscles; this opens airways again after swallowing
Prevertebral muscles	Rectus capitis anterior: runs from lateral mass of atlas (C1) to basilar part of the occipital bone; innervated by anterior rami of spinal nerves C1-C2 Rectus capitis lateralis: runs from transverse process of atlas (C1) to jugular process of occipital bone; innervated by anterior rami of spinal nerves C1-C2 Longus capitis: runs from transverse processes of vertebrae C3-C6 to basilar part of occipital bone; innervated by anterior rami of spinal nerves C1-C3 Longus colli: runs between anterior surfaces of vertebrae C1 to T3 (three parts); innervated by anterior rami of spinal nerves C2-C6 Function: rotation of the head (unilateral contraction), flexion of the head (bilateral contraction)

Muscles of the anterior neck

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