Patient's question:
I was born via cesarean section. There were no abnormalities detected at birth, but I noticed a lump the size of an olive on the right upper chest area about 20 days later. Later, when I saw a doctor, they said it was the sternocleidomastoid muscle and that it didn't require treatment and would resolve on its own.What kind of assistance is needed: Hello, what is the meaning of sternocleidomastoid muscle?
Doctor's answer:
Slightly located under the skin on both sides of the neck, it is mostly covered by the sternocleidomastoid muscle, forming a prominent surface landmark on the neck. The sternocleidomastoid muscle is controlled by the accessory nerve. It originates from the anterior surface of the manubrium of the sternum and the sternal end of the clavicle. The two heads merge and slope obliquely backward and upward, terminating at the mastoid process of the temporal bone. Its function is that when one muscle contracts, the head tilts to the same side, and the face moves to the opposite side. When both sides contract, the head can be retracted backward. The primary function of this muscle is to maintain the normal position of the head.