The Sternocleidomastoid

It’s called the Sternocleidomastoid. We have 2. Is this the longest one word name for a muscle in the body? Perhaps. The cool thing is that the name says what the muscle attaches to: sternocleidomastoid = sternum + clavicle + mastoid process (not in the name: nuchal line). In addition to having a cool name, it sits on top of important vessels including the carotid artery and the jugular vein. You can make your right SCM pop up by tilting your head to the right and turning your head to the left.

Disclaimer: The information provided is for educational purposes only and does not take the place of medical advice.