Which muscle is described as extending over the back of the neck and shoulders?

The trapezius is the muscle that extends over the back of the neck and shoulders, making it essential in various movements involving the upper limb and stabilizing the scapula and shoulder. This muscle has a broad, triangular shape and is divided into three parts: the upper, middle, and lower fibers, which perform different actions including elevation, retraction, and depression of the scapula. The trapezius is involved in movements such as shrugging the shoulders and tilting the head back.

The latissimus dorsi primarily functions in movements of the shoulder and back, but it does not extend over the back of the neck and shoulders as prominently as the trapezius does. The rhomboid major is located between the scapulae and is responsible for retracting the scapula, but it is not as expansive or visible in the neck and shoulder areas. The pectoralis minor, located in the chest, plays a more significant role in stabilizing the scapula and does not occupy the back of the neck or shoulders. Thus, the trapezius is correctly identified as the muscle that extends over these areas.