In human anatomy, the levator scapulae is a skeletal muscle situated at the back and side of the neck. As the name suggests, its main function is to lift the scapula.

The platysma is a superficial muscle that overlaps the sternocleidomastoid. It is a broad sheet arising from the fascia covering the upper parts of the pectoralis major and deltoid; its fibers cross the clavicle, and proceed obliquely upward and medially along the side of the neck.

The Scalenus medius, the largest and longest of the three scalene muscles, arises from the posterior tubercles of the transverse processes of the lower six cervical vertebræ.

The semispinalis capitis is innervated by the dorsal primary branches of the spinal nerves from C4 through C8.

The splenius capitis is a broad, straplike muscle in the back of the neck. It pulls on the base of the skull from vertebrae in the neck and upper thorax.

In human anatomy, the sternocleidomastoid muscle ( /ˌstɜrnɵˌkliːdɵˈmæstɔɪd/), also known as sternomastoid and commonly abbreviated as SCM, is a paired muscle in the superficial layers of the anterior portion of the neck.