Anatomy def: Paired neck muscles, each connecting sternum and clavicle to mastoid process of same side. Abbreviated SCM, these muscles rotate and nod the head and flex the neck.
Outlander def: Murtagh’s right SCM is taut (see #3 muscle movement below) as he implores Auntie Jo: “please, come back to bed.” He nails Burt Reynold’s pose from 1972 Cosmopolitan centerfold. Alrighty, then!
Learn about the sternocleidomastoid muscle in Anatomy Lesson #12, “Claire’s Neck” or “The Ivory Tower.”
SCM is so named because it takes origin from sternum and clavicle and inserts into mastoid process, a rounded knob of bone behind the ear, hence the word root meaning “breast.”
SCM muscles are hard-working, resulting in many useful head and neck movements:
- Working alone, look over shoulder of same side
- Working together, equally, tilt chin toward chest
- Working together, unequally, L SCM turns head to L as R SCM tilts ear to chest and visa versa
In anatomy, the SCM divides neck into anterior and posterior triangles where it serves as an important landmark in locating structures such as the common carotid artery and cervical (neck) lymph nodes.
Try This: Locate your R mastoid process, the bony knob behind R ear. Look over L shoulder and tilt R ear towards sternum. Now, palpate the taut muscular ridge from sternum to back of R ear. This is the R SCM and your head mimics sexy Murtagh’s head position. Yay!
The muscle is also involved in SCM Syndrome, a constellation of symptoms including:
- decreased range of motion of the neck
- dull aches and pains in neck
- sharp pains in neck
- neck stiffness
Fortunately, it can be successfully treated with passive and active therapies.
Read about neck muscles in Drums of Autumn, wherein Herself describes Jamie’s therapeutic massage of Claire’s neck muscles:
“Neither one at the moment,” Jamie replied, automatically gripping the back of my neck and massaging it with one hand. “He’s dead, aye?”
“That’s wonderful,” I said, groaning with ecstasy as his thumb sank into a particularly tender spot. “What you’re doing, I mean, not that your uncle’s dead. Ooh, don’t stop. How did he get to North Carolina?”
Jamie snorted with amusement, and moved behind me so he could use both hands on my neck and shoulders.
I nestled my bottom against him and sighed in bliss. “You’re a verra noisy woman, Sassenach,” he said, leaning forward to whisper in my ear.
See Murtagh’s right SCM in Starz ep 413, A Man of Worth. Oh, aye, we ken it just fine! <G>
A deeply grateful,
Outlander Anatomist