← Nerve roots

Spinal nerve root

C3

Muscle contributions

Reported motor contributions, grouped by region. Muscles commonly receive more than one root; these groups are not a serial nerve pathway.

Anterior and lateral neck

  • Longus capitis
  • Longus colli
  • Middle scalene

Posterior neck

  • Splenius capitis
  • Semispinalis capitis

Hyoid region

  • Sternohyoid
  • Omohyoid
  • Sternothyroid

Respiratory

  • Diaphragm

Scapular region

  • Levator scapulae

Other deep posterior neck muscles have segmental posterior-ramus supply; the reviewed references do not resolve every muscle or fascicle to an individual root.

References