Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Fibre type composition of female longus capitis and longus colli muscles

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Anatomical Science International Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Effective management of neck pain requires detailed knowledge of cervical muscle structure and function. Information on muscle fibre type assists in determining function; few data exist on the fibre type composition of many cervical muscles. The purpose of this study was to investigate the fibre type composition of longus capitis (LCa) and longus colli (LCo) to provide a better understanding of their function. Muscle sections were harvested unilaterally from LCa (C2–C7) and LCo (C3, C6, T1) in seven female cadavers (mean age 86 ± 9 years). Immunohistochemistry was used to identify type I and type II fibres, and stereology (random systematic sampling) used to determine fibre numbers. Data were assessed using descriptive statistics and one-way ANOVA (significance P < 0.05). Fifty-two sections were assessed (82,785 fibres; mean 1,592 ± 927 per section). LCa had a significantly greater proportion of type I fibres than LCo (64.3 % vs 55.7 %, P = 0.011). The percentage of fibre types varied significantly between individuals in LCa, but not LCo. No significant difference was found in the proportion of type I fibres between cervical levels for either LCa or LCo. LCa and LCo appear functionally different in elderly females, with LCa potentially having a more postural role (higher type I fibre proportion). Fibre types were homogenous throughout each muscle, indicating that contractile function is similar across the length of individual muscles. Further studies across a larger age-span and in males are required to determine whether results are representative of other populations.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Boyd-Clark LC, Briggs CA, Galea MP (2001) Comparative histochemical composition of muscle fibres in a pre- and a postvertebral muscle of the cervical spine. J Anat 199:709–716

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cagnie B, Dickx N, Peeters I, Tuytens J, Achten E, Cambier D, Danneels L (2008) The use of functional MRI to evaluate cervical flexor activity during different cervical flexion exercises. J Appl Physiol 104:230–235

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cagnie B, Dirks R, Schouten M, Parlevliet T, Cambier D, Danneels L (2011) Functional reorganization of cervical flexor activity because of induced muscle pain evaluated by muscle functional magnetic resonance imaging. Manual Ther 16:470–475

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cornwall J, Stringer M, Duxson M (2011) Function morphology of the thoracolumbar transversospinal muscles. Spine 36:E1053–E1061

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cornwall J, Perry GF, Louw G, Stringer MD (2012) Who donates their body to science? An international, mutlicenter, prospective study. Anat Sci Educ 5:208–216

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Doherty T (2003) Invited review: aging and sarcopenia. J Appl Physiol 95:1717–1727

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Falla D (2004) Unravelling the complexity of muscle impairment in chronic neck pain. Manual Ther 9:125–133

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Falla D, O’Leary S, Fagan A, Jull G (2007) Recruitment of the deep cervical flexor muscles during a postural-correction exercise performed in sitting. Manual Ther 12:139–143

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Flowers JM, Hicklin LA, Marion M (2011) Anterior and posterior sagittal shift in cervical dystonia: a clinical and electromyographic study, including a new EMG approach of the longus colli muscle. Movement Disord 26:2409–2414

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Javanshir K, Amiri M, Mohseni-Bandpei MA, Rezasoltani A, Fernandez-de-las-Penas C (2010) Ultrasonography of the cervical muscles: a critical review of the literature. J Manip Physiol Ther 33:630–637

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Johnson MA, Polgar J, Weightman D, Appleton D (1973) Data on the distribution of fibre types in thirty-six human muscles: an autopsy study. J Neurol Sci 18:111–129

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jull GA (2011) Considerations in the physical rehabilitation of patients with whiplash-associated disorders. Spine 36:S286–S291

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Jull G, Barrett C, Magee R, Ho P (1999) Further clinical clarification of the muscle dysfunction in cervical headache. Cephalalgia 19:179–185

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jull GA, Falla D, Vicenzino B, Hodges PW (2009) The effect of therapeutic exercise on activation of the deep cervical flexor muscles in people with chronic neck pain. Manual Ther 14:696–701

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kamibayashi LK, Richmond FJ (1998) Morphometry of human neck muscles. Spine 23:1314–1323

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lexell J, Taylor C, Sjostrom M (1985) Analysis of sampling errors in biopsy techniques using data from whole muscle cross sections. J Appl Physiol 59:1228–1235

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mannion AF, Dumas GA, Cooper RG, Espinosa FJ, Faris MW, Stevenson JM (1997) Muscle fibre size and type distribution in thoracic and lumbar regions of erector spinae in healthy subjects without low back pain: normal values and sex differences. J Anat 190:505–513

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Mayoux-Benhamou MA, Revel M, Vallee C, Roudier R, Barbet JP, Bargy F (1994) Longus colli has a postural function on cervical curvature. Surg Radiol Anat 16:367–371

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nitz JC, Burns YR, Jackson RV (1995) Development of a reliable test of (neck) muscle strength and range in myotonic dystrophy subjects. Physiother Theory Pract 11:239–244

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sanders RJ, Jackson CGR, Banchero N, Pearce WH (1990) Scalene muscle abnormalities in traumatic thoracic outlet syndrome. Am J Surg 159:231–236

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sheard PW, Anderson RD (2012) Age-related loss of muscle fibres is highly variable amongst mouse skeletal muscles. Biogerontology 13:157–167

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sirca A, Kostevc V (1985) The fibre type composition of thoracic and lumbar paravertebral muscles in man. J Anat 141:131–137

    PubMed Central  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Uhlig Y, Weber BR, Grob D, Muntener M (1995) Fiber composition and fiber transformations in neck muscles of patients with dysfunction of the cervical spine. J Orthopaed Res 13:240–249

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Watson DH, Trott PH (1993) Cervical headache: an investigation of natural head posture and upper cervical flexor muscle performance. Cephalalgia 13:272–284

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wolzak H, van de Rest M, Geurts M, Ter Borg E (2010) Acute calcific tendinitis of the longus colli muscle. J Clin Rheumatol 16:240–241

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ylinen J (2007) Physical exercises and functional rehabilitation of the management of chronic neck pain. Eura Medicophys 43:119–132

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Mr. David Stiles and Mr. Brynley Crosado for their assistance with the cadaveric specimens, and the donors who so graciously bequeathed their bodies. A.M. was supported by an Otago School of Medical Sciences summer scholarship.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anatomy, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin, 9013, New Zealand

    Alexandra Miller, Stephanie J. Woodley & Jon Cornwall

  2. Department of Physiology, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin, 9013, New Zealand

    Jon Cornwall

  3. Faculty of Law, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin, 9013, New Zealand

    Jon Cornwall

Authors
  1. Alexandra Miller
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Stephanie J. Woodley
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Jon Cornwall
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jon Cornwall.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Miller, A., Woodley, S.J. & Cornwall, J. Fibre type composition of female longus capitis and longus colli muscles. Anat Sci Int 91, 163–168 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12565-015-0280-3

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12565-015-0280-3

Keywords

Search

Navigation