Head and neck anatomy

The head and neck hold the brain and the sense organs and connect them to the trunk. The skull protects the brain and the mandible forms the lower jaw, while the cervical vertebrae carry the head and let it nod and turn. The muscles here move the jaw, the face and the head: the temporalis and the masseter for chewing, the small muscles of facial expression, and the sternocleidomastoid at the side of the neck.

Bones of the head and neck

MandibleMandibula SkullCranium

Muscles of the head and neck

Face muscles 15 with a page · full table →

FrontalisVenter frontalis musculi occipitofrontalis ProcerusMusculus procerus NasalisMusculus nasalis Depressor septi nasiMusculus depressor septi nasi Levator labii superioris alaeque nasiMusculus levator labii superioris alaeque nasi Levator labii superiorisMusculus levator labii superioris Zygomaticus majorMusculus zygomaticus major Zygomaticus minorMusculus zygomaticus minor Levator anguli orisMusculus levator anguli oris Orbicularis orisMusculus orbicularis oris BuccinatorMusculus buccinator Depressor anguli orisMusculus depressor anguli oris Depressor labii inferiorisMusculus depressor labii inferioris MentalisMusculus mentalis TemporalisMusculus temporalis

Other muscles

Anterior auricularMusculus auricularis anterior Anterior scaleneMusculus scalenus anterior Corrugator superciliiMusculus corrugator supercilii Depressor superciliiMusculus depressor supercilii DigastricMusculus digastricus HyoglossusMusculus hyoglossus MasseterMusculus masseter Middle scaleneMusculus scalenus medius MylohyoidMusculus mylohyoideus OmohyoidMusculus omohyoideus Orbicularis oculiMusculus orbicularis oculi PlatysmaPlatysma Posterior auricularMusculus auricularis posterior Posterior scaleneMusculus scalenus posterior RisoriusMusculus risorius SternocleidomastoidMusculus sternocleidomastoideus SternohyoidMusculus sternohyoideus SternothyroidMusculus sternothyroideus StylohyoidMusculus stylohyoideus Superior auricularMusculus auricularis superior ThyrohyoidMusculus thyrohyoideus

Organs of the head and neck

Brain ventricles Four fluid-filled cavities deep in the brain, and the structures that surround them. Brain The control center of the nervous system, protected inside the skull. Ear The organ of hearing and balance, mostly hidden inside the temporal bone. Eye The organ of vision, with its three layers and six muscles in the orbit. Larynx The voice box at the top of the airway, built from cartilage and folds. Tongue The muscular organ of the mouth used for chewing, swallowing, taste and speech.

Test yourself

Name it, find it, light them all on a real 3D body, in 3 levels. Free, in the browser.

Head quiz 30 structures in 3 levels. Neck quiz 23 structures in 3 levels. Head and neck muscles quiz 39 structures in 3 levels. Organs quiz 22 structures in 3 levels. Skeleton quiz 96 structures in 3 levels.