Scalene muscles - Clinical significance

The scalene muscles are a group of three pairs of muscles in the lateral neck, namely the anterior scalene, middle scalene, and posterior scalene. 

​They are innervated by the fourth, fifth, and sixth cervical spinal nerves (C4-C6).
The anterior and middle scalene muscles lifts first rib and bends the neck to the same side;
the posterior scalene lifts the second rib and tilts the neck to the same side.

CPE Workshops / Study Guides Avaliable

Headaches Study Module

Whiplash Study Module

Shoulder Study Module

Patellofemoral Pain Study Module

Clinical significance
​The anterior and middle scalene muscles can be involved in certain forms of thoracic outlet syndrome as well as myofascial pain syndrome, the symptoms of which may mimic a spinal disc herniation of the cervical vertebrae.

Since the nerves of the brachial plexus pass through the space between the anterior and middle scalene muscles, that area is sometimes targeted with the administration of regional anesthesia by physicians. The nerve block, called an interscalene block, may be performed prior to arm or shoulder surgery

While each Scalene muscle can harbor multiple trigger points, the primary trigger point in the Anterior Scalene is the most frequently encountered