splenius — English Dictionary

Noun

1. Either of two flat oblique muscles which are attached to the vertebrae on each side of the neck and upper thoracic region and which draw back the head.

   Examples

   He caressed and parted [...] her lank loose, nearly lumbus-length (when she threw her head back as now) black silks as he tried to get at her bed-warm splenius.

Noun

1. either of two flat muscles that extend from the upper vertebrae to the base of the skull and serve to rotate or flex or extend the head and neck

   Synonyms

   splenius muscle

   Broader terms

   skeletal musclestriated muscle