What does "splenius" mean?

Either of two flat oblique muscles which are attached to the vertebrae on each side of the neck and upper thoracic region and which draw back the head.

What is a synonym for "splenius"?

Common synonyms include: splenius muscle, deep neck muscle, neck extensor, neck muscle.

How do you pronounce "splenius"?

Pronounced //ˈspliː.ni.əs//.

Splenius

/ˈspliː.ni.əs/ noun

noun ·Rare ·Advanced level

Definitions

Noun

1
Either of two flat oblique muscles which are attached to the vertebrae on each side of the neck and upper thoracic region and which draw back the head.
"He caressed and parted [...] her lank loose, nearly lumbus-length (when she threw her head back as now) black silks as he tried to get at her bed-warm splenius."
2
either of two flat muscles that extend from the upper vertebrae to the base of the skull and serve to rotate or flex or extend the head and neck wordnet

Synonyms

All synonyms

splenius muscle deep neck muscle neck extensor neck muscle

Antonyms

All antonyms

extensor flexor

Example

More examples

"He caressed and parted [...] her lank loose, nearly lumbus-length (when she threw her head back as now) black silks as he tried to get at her bed-warm splenius."

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin splēnius, from splēnium (“a plaster, patch”) + -ius (adjectival suffix).

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