longissimus capitis muscle

longissimus capitis muscle definition - medical

lon·gis·si·mus cap·i·tis muscle (lŏn-jĭsˈə-məs căpˈĭ-tĭs)

noun
A muscle with origin from the upper thoracic vertebrae and the lower and middle cervical vertebrae, with insertion into the mastoid process, with nerve supply from the dorsal branches of the cervical nerves, and whose action keeps the head erect and draws it backward or to one side.

The American Heritage® Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

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