splenius

[splee-nee-uhs]

noun

Anatomy.

plural

splenii 

1. a broad muscle on each side of the back of the neck and the upper part of the thoracic region, the action of which draws the head backward and assists in turning it to one side.

splenius

/ ˈspliːnɪəs /

noun

1. anatomy either of two flat muscles situated at the back of the neck that rotate, flex, and extend the head and neck

Other Word Forms

• splenial adjective
• subsplenial adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of splenius¹

1725–35; < New Latin, for Latin splēnium < Greek splēníon plaster, patch

Word History and Origins

Origin of splenius¹

C18: via New Latin from Greek splēnion a plaster