The head and neck are taken into deep extension with rotation to the contralateral side to palpate the _.

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The sternocleidomastoid is the muscle you’re feeling. It runs from the sternum and clavicle up to the mastoid process, and its action is to rotate the head to the opposite side and to flex the neck. When the head is placed in deep extension and rotated to the contralateral side, that muscle on the rotating side becomes taut and prominent along the anterior neck, making it easy to palpate. The other muscles are located and felt in different positions or with different movements, so this specific head position is most diagnostic for the sternocleidomastoid.