The rectus capitis lateralis, a short, flat muscle, arises from the upper surface of the
transverse process
The spinal column, a defining synapomorphy shared by nearly all vertebrates,Hagfish are believed to have secondarily lost their spinal column is a moderately flexible series of vertebrae (singular vertebra), each constituting a characteristic i ...
of the
atlas
An atlas is a collection of maps; it is typically a bundle of maps of Earth or of a region of Earth.
Atlases have traditionally been bound into book form, but today many atlases are in multimedia formats. In addition to presenting geographic ...
, and is inserted into the under surface of the
jugular process
The jugular process is a quadrilateral or triangular bony plate projecting lateralward from the posterior half of the occipital condyle; it is a part of the lateral part of the occipital bone.
The jugular process is excavated in front by the jugu ...
of the
occipital bone
The occipital bone () is a neurocranium, cranial dermal bone and the main bone of the occiput (back and lower part of the skull). It is trapezoidal in shape and curved on itself like a shallow dish. The occipital bone overlies the occipital lobe ...
.
Additional images
File:Rectus capitis lateralis muscle - animation01.gif, Position of rectus capitis lateralis muscle (shown in red). Animation.
File:Rectus capitis lateralis muscle - animation05.gif, Close up. Skull
The skull is a bone protective cavity for the brain. The skull is composed of four types of bone i.e., cranial bones, facial bones, ear ossicles and hyoid bone. However two parts are more prominent: the cranium and the mandible. In humans, the ...
has been removed (except occipital bone
The occipital bone () is a neurocranium, cranial dermal bone and the main bone of the occiput (back and lower part of the skull). It is trapezoidal in shape and curved on itself like a shallow dish. The occipital bone overlies the occipital lobe ...
).
File:Rectus capitis lateralis muscle03.png, Lateral view. Still image.
File:Gray129.png, Occipital bone. Outer surface.
File:Gray187.png, Base of skull. Inferior surface.
See also
*
Atlanto-occipital joint
The atlanto-occipital joint (''Capsula articularis atlantooccipitalis'') is an articulation between the atlas bone and the occipital bone. It consists of a pair of condyloid joints. It is a synovial joint.
Structure
The atlanto-occipital joint ...
*
Rectus capitis posterior major muscle
The rectus capitis posterior major (or rectus capitis posticus major, both being Latin for ''larger posterior straight muscle of the head'') arises by a pointed tendon from the spinous process of the axis, and, becoming broader as it ascends, is in ...
*
Rectus capitis posterior minor muscle
The rectus capitis posterior minor (or rectus capitis posticus minor, both being Latin for ''lesser posterior straight muscle of the head'') arises by a narrow pointed tendon from the tubercle on the posterior arch of the atlas, and, widening as i ...
*
Rectus capitis anterior muscle
The rectus capitis anterior (rectus capitis anticus minor) is a short, flat muscle, situated immediately behind the upper part of the Longus capitis.
It arises from the anterior surface of the lateral mass of the atlas, and from the root of its t ...
References
External links
PTCentral
Muscles of the head and neck
{{muscle-stub