Question #578

Longus colli lies deep on the anterior surface of the cervical vertebrae extending down to T3. It can be divided into three different sections:

• Superior oblique: Transverse processes of C3-5 to the anterior arch of C1
• Vertical: from vertebral bodies of C5-T3 to vertebral bodies of C2-4.
• Inferior oblique: vertebral bodies of T1-3 to the transverse processes of C5-6.

It is innervated by the anterior rami of C2-6 and on contraction it both flexes and rotates the cervical spine.

Due to its position overlying the vertebral bodies, longus colli needs to be retracted in order to perform an anterior cervical discectomy.

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