Where is the scalene muscle located?

The scalene muscles are located deep in relation to the sternocleidomastoid muscle, lateral to the cervical spine, connecting the vertebrae to the first two ribs. The deep fascia or prevertebral fascia envelop the scalene muscles.

What is scalene anatomy?

Description. Scalene are a group of three pairs of muscles in the lateral neck: scalenus anterior, scalenus medius and scalenus posterior. Sometimes a fourth muscle, the scalenus minimus is present behind the lower portion of the scalenus anterior.

What does the scalene muscles attach to?

Origin and insertion The muscle fibres extend posterolaterally to form a tendon, which inserts into the superior border of the first rib. The insertion site is located posterior to the groove for subclavian artery and anterior to the tubercle of first rib.

What is scalene syndrome?

Scalene myofascial pain syndrome is a regional pain syndrome wherein pain originates over the neck area and radiates down to the arm. This condition may present as primary or secondary to underlying cervical pathology.

What nerve supplies the scalene muscles?

cervical spinal nerves
The scalene muscles are a group of three pairs of muscles in the lateral neck, namely the anterior scalene, middle scalene, and posterior scalene. They are innervated by the third to the eight cervical spinal nerves (C3-C8).

What causes tight scalenes?

Activities that can cause scalene muscle pain are whiplash; excessive coughing; sufferers of breathing conditions such as COPD, asthma, and emphysema; extended periods of head tilted; sleeping on stomach with head to one side; carrying something heavy such as a backpack or purse; pulling or lifting with the arms at …

Which nerve plexus is compressed by the scalene muscles?

the brachial plexus
The scalene triangle is above the clavicle. Between the anterior and middle scalene muscles are the five nerve roots and trunks of the brachial plexus and the subclavian artery.

Can scalene muscles cause chest pain?

Anterior Scalene It’s also considered an accessory to breathing because it raises your first rib when you inhale. The most common symptoms that originate from anterior scalene trigger points include: Two-pronged pain strokes around the chest region. Shoulder pain.

What does scalene pain feel like?

Just like the pain of a heart attack spreads from the heart into the shoulder & arm, the pain of painful scalene muscles spreads throughout the chest, upper back & chest, the arm & hand & the side of the head. Pain referred to the back may feel like a penetrating pain stabbing through the torso.