The muscles that cover the shoulder and back of a neck are?

Appeared in: NVS Staff Nurse - 2019

Explanation

The trapezius is a large, flat, triangular muscle located on the posterior aspect of the neck and the superior part of the thorax.
As its name suggests, the paired trapezius muscles form a diamond or trapezoid shape.
It covers the back of the neck and the shoulder region, making it the correct answer.
Its functions include elevating the scapula (shrugging), retracting the scapula (pulling shoulders back), and rotating the scapula, which is essential for raising the arm overhead.

Option A: The Biceps brachii muscle is located on the anterior (front) aspect of the upper arm, not the back of the neck or shoulder.
Option C: The Temporalis muscle is a fan-shaped muscle located on the side of the head, in the temporal fossa. It is one of the muscles of mastication (chewing).
Option D: The Masseter is a powerful muscle of mastication located in the cheek, superficial to the jaw bone. It does not cover the neck or shoulder.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Anatomy of major superficial muscles of the neck, shoulder, and head as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
A key nursing assessment includes checking the function of the spinal accessory nerve (Cranial Nerve XI), which innervates the trapezius. This is done by asking the patient to shrug their shoulders against resistance.
Damage to the accessory nerve, for example during neck surgery or due to trauma, can lead to trapezius palsy. This results in a drooping shoulder, weakness in shrugging, and difficulty in abducting the arm above 90 degrees.
What if? If a patient presents with a drooping shoulder and weakness when trying to turn their head against resistance, the nurse should suspect an issue with the sternocleidomastoid muscle, which is also innervated by the accessory nerve, in addition to the trapezius.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the key terms in the question: 'muscles', 'cover', 'shoulder', and 'back of a neck'.
The question is asking for a specific muscle based on its location.
Visualize or recall the basic anatomy of the major muscles of the upper body.
Evaluate each option based on its known location: Biceps (arm), Trapezius (back/neck/shoulder), Temporalis (head/jaw), Masseter (cheek/jaw).
The trapezius muscle's location perfectly matches the description in the question.
Eliminate the other options as their locations do not fit the description.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Anatomy of major superficial muscles of the neck, shoulder, and head.
Stem keywords: muscles, cover, shoulder, back of a neck
Lead-in keywords: are

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E6 Anatomy Grays 43e Vol 2 Part 2 p. 97-99

E6 Anatomy BDChaurasia V1 10e p. 69-71

Practise the full NVS Staff Nurse - 2019

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.