Which muscles lie on the anterior surface of the vertebral column and are posterior to the thyroid lobe and CCA?

• A. Longus colli muscles
• B. Levator scapulae
• C. Splenius capitis
• D. Semispinalis capitis

Answer: (A)

Think about the muscles that sit directly in front of the spine in the neck. The prevertebral group runs along the anterior surface of the cervical vertebrae, between the vertebral bodies and the pharynx/esophagus. The longus colli is the vertical muscle bundle in this region, following the front of the spine from near the base of the skull down to the upper thoracic area. Because the thyroid lobe and the common carotid arteries reside more anteriorly in the neck, the longus colli lies behind them, i.e., posterior to the thyroid lobe and CCA. That placement makes it the muscle described.

The other muscles listed are located posteriorly or laterally in the neck: levator scapulae is a lateral/posterior muscle linking the scapula to the cervical vertebrae, while splenius capitis and semispinalis capitis run along the back of the neck.