Any of three muscles on each side of the neck that serve to bend and rotate the neck and that assist breathing by raising or fixing the first two ribs. Also called scalenus
[ 'skA-"lEn, skA-' ] (adjective.) 1734. Late Latin scalenus, from Greek skalEnos, literally, uneven; perhaps akin to Greek skolios crooked, skelos leg; more at ISOSCELES.