15/08/2026
The sternocleidomastoid — or SCM — is one of the most prominent muscles of the neck. Running from the sternum and clavicle to the mastoid process just behind the ear, it creates a direct muscular relationship between the chest, neck and base of the skull.
Its most obvious role is movement. Working individually, the SCM helps rotate and side-bend the head; together, the two muscles assist with flexion of the neck. It can also act as an accessory muscle of breathing, particularly when the body needs additional respiratory effort.
But from a Craniosacral Therapy perspective, its location makes it particularly interesting.
The SCM sits within a richly interconnected region of fascia, nerves, blood vessels and structures involved in breathing, swallowing and orientation. Its attachment at the mastoid brings it into close relationship with the temporal bone, while its lower attachments connect into the sternum and clavicle — creating a pathway between the cranium, cervical region and upper thorax.
Sometimes what initially feels like a local pattern in the neck reveals itself as part of a much wider organisation.
This is one of the things we love about craniosacral work: we can know the anatomy while remaining curious about the individual body beneath our hands. 🙌🏼
