Which muscle elevates the clavicle during a shoulder shrug and also helps extend the neck?

Which muscle elevates the clavicle during a shoulder shrug and also helps extend the neck?

• A. Trapezius
• B. Levator Scapulae
• C. Rhomboid Minor
• D. Pectoralis Minor

Answer: (A)

The trapezius is doing the job here, especially its upper fibers. When you shrug, those fibers attach to the clavicle and the top of the scapula and pull the clavicle upward, elevating the shoulder girdle. At the same time, because the trapezius crosses the neck, its upper fibers can help extend the head when the shoulder/scapula are stabilized. That combination—lifting the clavicle during a shrug and aiding neck extension—fits this question perfectly. Other muscles don’t match both parts of the action as well. Levator scapulae mainly elevates the scapula and assists in neck movements but doesn’t elevate the clavicle itself. Rhomboid minor retracts the scapula and doesn’t elevate the clavicle or extend the neck. Pectoralis minor depresses or protracts the scapula and isn’t involved in neck extension.

The trapezius is doing the job here, especially its upper fibers. When you shrug, those fibers attach to the clavicle and the top of the scapula and pull the clavicle upward, elevating the shoulder girdle. At the same time, because the trapezius crosses the neck, its upper fibers can help extend the head when the shoulder/scapula are stabilized. That combination—lifting the clavicle during a shrug and aiding neck extension—fits this question perfectly.

Other muscles don’t match both parts of the action as well. Levator scapulae mainly elevates the scapula and assists in neck movements but doesn’t elevate the clavicle itself. Rhomboid minor retracts the scapula and doesn’t elevate the clavicle or extend the neck. Pectoralis minor depresses or protracts the scapula and isn’t involved in neck extension.