Want to learn what muscles are in your neck, and what each of them is responsible for? You're in luck. In our complete guide to neck muscles anatomy, you're going to learn all this and more.
The neck is one of the most complex regions of the body. And, it is so important to keep your neck healthy. Neck pain and tightness can affect your day-to-day life. And if you're an athlete, your neck is even more important.
Keeping your neck healthy starts with understanding all the different muscles in it. Then, you can learn how to train each of these muscles to build a strong, resilient neck. This not only reduces your risk of injury - it increases your mobility and performance. And let's face it - a strong, durable neck just flat out looks better than a pencil neck! Stay tuned to the very end of this article as we'll explain how to train each of the key neck muscles with one simple training device.
Let's start by addressing the main topic at hand today - what muscles are in your neck?
What Muscles Are In Your Neck?
The neck is home to some of the smallest muscles in the human body. And, there are more muscles at play than you may assume. In fact, there are just about a dozen or so muscles in the neck. But don't let their size fool you - these small muscles play a BIG role in supporting your head and neck. The neck muscles can be broadly grouped into four main categories:
- Muscles that move the head
- Muscles that stabilize the head
- Muscles that help you breathe
- Muscles that help you swallow
We're going to go through each of these muscle groups in detail. For each muscle, we'll explain what it is called, what it does, and why it is important. Let's get started!
Muscles That Move The Head
The muscles that move the head are some of the most important neck muscles. These allow you to turn your head from side to side, and they also help you nod up and down. The main muscle group here is called the sternocleidomastoid (SCM). The SCM is a long, thick muscle that runs from behind your ear all the way down to your collarbone. It also has an attachment point at the sternum. This muscle is responsible for turning your head from side to side, and it also helps stabilize your head when you're moving around.
The other key muscle group for moving the head are the posterior cervical muscles. These are a group of small muscles that run from the back of your skull down to your upper back. These muscles allow you to tilt your head back and forth, and they also help stabilize your head when you're moving around.
One final muscle we want to highlight as it pertains to movement is the levator scapulae. This is an important muscle that attaches to your top four cervical vertebrae. It runs down the sides of your neck to attach to the scapula at the other end. This muscle is important for lifting your shoulder blades, bending your neck each way, and even rotating your head around.
Muscles That Stabilize The Head
The muscles that stabilize the head are just as important as the muscles that move it. These are the muscles that keep your head level when you're walking or running. They also help protect your neck from injury by absorbing impact and keeping your spine in alignment.
The main muscle group here is called the trapezius (trap). The trap is a large, triangular muscle that runs from the base of your skull all the way down to your lower back. When looking at the posterior anatomy of a human being, the traps resemble a kite-like shape on the back. This muscle is responsible for stabilizing your head and neck, and it also helps with other movements like shrugging your shoulders.
The other key muscle group for stabilizing the head is the deep cervical muscles. These are a group of small muscles that run from your skull down to your upper back. These muscles help stabilize your head and neck, and they also help protect your spine from injury.
Muscles That Help You Breathe
We know what you're thinking - wait, neck muscles help me breathe? How? Well, pumping air into our lungs is a two-part process. First, the muscles in our chest and abdomen contract to expand our lungs. But then, the muscles in our neck relax to allow air to flow into our lungs.
The main muscle group here is called the scalenes (scaleneus anterior, middle, and posterior). These are a group of small muscles that start on your uppermost vertebrae in the neck and run laterally down the sides of your neck to underneath your collarbone, attaching to the first and second ribs. These muscles help expand your chest when you breathe in, and they also help stabilize your head and neck.
Muscles That Help You Swallow
Finally, to bring this part of our discussion to a close we must discuss the neck muscles that help you swallow. Swallowing is so innate that you may not even realize it takes muscular strength to do it. But, it's true! And these "swallowing muscles" are located in the neck. They also play a role in keeping our airways clear by pushing mucus and other fluids up from our lungs.
The main muscle group here is called the suprahyoids (stylohyoid, mylohyoid, geniohyoid). These are a group of small muscles that run from underneath your jawbone up to your skull. These muscles help push food and fluids down your throat, and they also help keep your airways clear.
Why It Is So Important To Train All Of The Neck Muscles
So there you have it! Those are the main muscle groups in the neck. As you can see, there are a lot of them! And each one plays an important role in keeping us healthy and moving properly. Now that we know what's going on inside our necks, let's talk about why it is so important to incorporate some degree of neck training into your life.
Many people - especially nonathletes - never even consider training their necks. Even those who take fitness seriously neglect the neck muscles. But as you now know, this isn't an area of your body you can afford to neglect any longer.
A strong, thick neck is more resistant to injury. Furthermore, a strong neck improves athletic performance. And let's face it - a strong, thick neck just looks better than a scrawny, pencil neck. But with so many different muscles at play, developing a well-rounded training plan can be tricky. Fortunately, we have some awesome resources to help you get started. Take a look at our complete guide on how to strengthen neck muscles. We also have a great resource on how to loosen a stiff neck if you’d like to learn more about reducing pain and tension, too!
How To Train Every Neck Muscle With One Device
There are many reasons why you should train your neck muscles. A strong, thick neck is more resistant to injury. Furthermore, a strong neck improves athletic performance. And let's face it - a strong, thick neck just looks better than a scrawny pencil neck. But how do you train these important muscles in an efficient manner? Fortunately, there is a solution that allows you to attack the neck from all angles with one simple device. It can be used from the comfort of your own home too. Introducing the Iron Neck - the #1 neck strengthener on the market.
The Iron Neck is the best way to train your neck muscles. It is a simple device that attaches to your head and allows you to apply resistance while performing various exercises. The Iron Neck is safe and easy to use, and it is the most effective way to train your neck muscles. And unlike other training modalities - such as a neck weight harness and resistance loop bands - it grants you the ability to train the neck from all angles!
To truly understand why the Iron Neck device is such a worthy investment, head over to the site and see it in action yourself. There is a reason the top personal trainers, strength coaches, and physical therapists around the globe incorporate it into their practices. You’ll be glad you took a chance on this device.
What Muscles Are In Your Neck? Wrapping Things Up
That concludes our breakdown of the anatomy of the neck. You now know what muscles are in your neck, and what each of them is responsible for. More importantly, you know that training them is going to be an essential part of your fitness or wellness journey going forward. And with the help of the Iron Neck, it’s feasible to train each of these crucial little muscles with one simple device - without having to leave your home!
So, there is just one thing left to do - head over to our site and invest in your wellbeing today. You won’t regret it!