The upper trapezius muscle is located in which area?

The upper trapezius muscle is located in which area?

• A. Back of the neck
• B. Side of the neck
• C. Front of the chest
• D. Outer thigh and glutes

Answer: (B)

The upper trapezius sits in the upper neck and shoulder region, running from the base of the skull down toward the lateral part of the clavicle and shoulder blade. Because its fibers span the top and side of the neck as they travel toward the shoulder, describing its location as the side of the neck is the most accurate way to capture where you’d feel or see this part of the muscle. It’s a superficial muscle that helps with elevating the scapula (shrugging the shoulders) and assisting neck movements, so it isn’t located at the front of the chest or down in the thigh and glutes.

The upper trapezius sits in the upper neck and shoulder region, running from the base of the skull down toward the lateral part of the clavicle and shoulder blade. Because its fibers span the top and side of the neck as they travel toward the shoulder, describing its location as the side of the neck is the most accurate way to capture where you’d feel or see this part of the muscle. It’s a superficial muscle that helps with elevating the scapula (shrugging the shoulders) and assisting neck movements, so it isn’t located at the front of the chest or down in the thigh and glutes.