The deep neck flexor
Longus colli · musculus longus colli
A deep muscle on the front of the spine that bends and steadies the neck.
What it does
The longus colli lies directly on the front of the neck vertebrae, behind the throat. It bends the neck forward and, more importantly, helps hold the neck stable and its natural curve in place.
Surprising fact
It is often injured in whiplash, when the head snaps backwards and stretches the front of the neck.
Why it matters
Physiotherapists retrain these deep neck flexors in people with chronic neck pain, using gentle chin-tuck exercises.
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.