Definition

Noun 1. A paired muscle in the back of the neck: The splenius is either of two flat, broad muscles (the splenius capitis and splenius cervicis) located on the back and side of the neck. They connect the upper vertebrae to the base of the skull and are involved in movements of the head and neck.

Examples

• Noun:
  • The splenius muscle helps to rotate the head to the same side.
  • Pain in the splenius is a common cause of tension headaches.
  • During the anatomy exam, the student correctly identified the splenius capitis.

Advanced Usage

• "Splenius capitis": The superior portion of the splenius muscle that attaches to the skull.
  • The splenius capitis originates from the lower cervical and upper thoracic vertebrae and inserts into the mastoid process of the temporal bone.
• "Splenius cervicis": The inferior portion of the splenius muscle that attaches to the cervical vertebrae.
  • The splenius cervicis originates from the thoracic vertebrae and inserts into the cervical vertebrae.

Variants and Related Words

• Splenial (adj): Pertaining to or resembling a splenius muscle or a splint. (This term is more commonly used in anatomical contexts like the "splenial bone" in some animals or the "splenial muscle" as an alternate descriptor).
• Splenii (n): The plural form of splenius.

Synonyms

• Neck extensor: A general functional term for muscles that extend the head and neck, which includes the splenius among others.
• Posterior cervical muscle: A descriptive anatomical term for muscles located at the back of the neck.

Related Phrases

(This word is a specific anatomical term and does not have common phrasal verbs or idioms associated with it in everyday language.)

Noun

1. either of two flat muscles that extend from the upper vertebrae to the base of the skull and serve to rotate or flex or extend the head and neck