The head flexor
Longus capitis · musculus longus capitis
A deep neck muscle that nods the head forward.
What it does
The longus capitis runs from the neck vertebrae to the base of the skull, in front of the spine. It bends the head and upper neck forward, as in nodding.
Surprising fact
Along with the longus colli, it is one of the deep muscles that work like a living collar, holding the neck steady as the head moves.
Why it matters
Poor posture with the chin poking forward tends to leave these deep flexors weak and the muscles at the back of the neck overworked.
Nearby
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Sources
Drafted with AI help; awaiting a human fact-check against these sources.
Open in the 3D atlas · Suggest a correction · Not medical advice.
3D models: Z-Anatomy & BodyParts3D (CC BY-SA 4.0 / 2.1 JP). Card text CC BY 4.0.