Click on the structure to specify the target of your label
![]() |
01 | ![]() |
Semispinalis capitis
Other Terms:
Musculus semispinalis capitis,
Muscle semi-épineux de la tête
Muscle parts
None
Latin name
Musculus semispinalis capitis
Latin muscle parts
None
Group
Epaxial muscle – Transversospinales – Semispinalis
Etymology
The English name for this muscle is the half vertebral cloumn muscle of the head. The word semispinalis comes from the combined Latin word semis meaning “half” and spinalis comes from the Latin spina meaning “thorn.” This term was applied to pointed projections and in the 14th century was applied to the vertebral column with all its palpable spinous processes that form the dorsal line of the backbone.The word capitis comes from the Latin caput meaning “head.”
Origin
Tips of transverse processes of C7 to T6 and articular tubercle of C4 to C6
Insertion
Medial part of the area between the superior and inferior nuchal lines on the occipital bone
Action
Extends the head; weak rotation of head to opposite side.
Nerve supply
Dorsal rami of cervical and thoracic spinal nerves (C2 to T6)
Blood supply
The lateral cervical portion of the muscle receives a blood supply from the deep cervical artery, which arises from the costocervical trunk of the subclavian artery and the descending branch of the occipital artery, which forms an anastomosis with the deep cervical artery.
Latin
Musculus semispinalis capitis
French
Muscle semi-épineux de la tête