13. Sternocleidomastoid

Origin: Mastoid process of the temporal bone and lateral half of the superior nuchal line

Insertion:

  • Sternal head: anterior surface of the manubrium
  • Clavicular head: Superior surface of the medial 1/3 of the clavicle

Action:

  • Unilaterally: Ipsilateral side bend of the head
  • Unilaterally: Contralateral rotation of the head
  • Bilaterally: Csp flexion

Innervation: Spinal accessory nerve (CN XI) and C2/3

Sternocleidomastoid muscle.
Figure 2.30 Sternocleidomastoid, adapted by Uwe Gille from the original image by Henry Gray and Henry Vandyke Carter (Public domain).

Needling

Position: Supine with head rotated to the opposite side

Palpation: Resist Csp side bend with the head rotated to the opposite side to help isolate this muscle

    • If you can pick up this muscle, needle medial to lateral or lateral to medial through the midportion of the muscle, avoiding the external jugular vein
    • If the muscle is not able to be picked up, thread the needle superficially superior to inferior or inferior to superior through this muscle

Caution: High – This muscle lies directly overtop of the common carotid artery and roots of the brachial plexus (among other structures) – Caution must be taken not to needle behind this muscle

 

Needling of sternocleidomastoid.
Figure 2.31 Needling of sternocleidomastoid, original image by Nadine Crocker, CC BY-NC 4.0.
Needling of sternocleidomastoid.
Figure 2.32 Needling of sternocleidomastoid, original image by Nadine Crocker, CC BY-NC 4.0.

Video 2.14 Needling of sternocleidomastoid, original video by Nadine Crocker, CC BY-NC 4.0.

License

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Sinew Channel Needling Copyright © 2026 by Nadine Crocker is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License, except where otherwise noted.

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