Back Muscles – Origin, Insertion, Action & Innervation Practice Test

The longissimus capitis attaches to the mastoid process of the temporal bone. This is the point where the muscle inserts, allowing it to extend the head and rotate it to the same side. Its origin is from the upper thoracic and lower cervical vertebrae, but the key insertion site is the mastoid process, not structures like the zygomatic arch, foramen magnum, or greater trochanter. The zygomatic arch is a facial bone area unrelated to this muscle’s attachment, the foramen magnum is an opening in the skull, and the greater trochanter is on the femur.