The suboccipital muscles are a group of muscles defined by their location to the

occiput The occipital bone () is a 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 lobes of the cereb ...

. Suboccipital muscles are located below 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 ...

. These are four paired muscles on the underside of the occipital bone; the two straight muscles (''rectus'') and the two oblique muscles (''obliquus''). The muscles are named *''

Rectus capitis posterior major 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 ...

'' goes from the spinous process of the axis (C2) to the occipital bone. *''

Rectus capitis posterior minor 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 ...

'' goes from the middle of the posterior arch of the atlas to the occipit. *''

Obliquus capitis superior The obliquus capitis superior muscle () is a small muscle in the upper back part of the neck and is one of the suboccipital muscles and part of the suboccipital triangle. It arises from the lateral mass of the atlas bone. It passes superiorly a ...

'' goes from the transverse process of the atlas to the occiput. *''

Obliquus capitis inferior The obliquus capitis inferior muscle () is the larger of the two oblique muscles of the neck. It arises from the apex of the spinous process of the axis and passes laterally and slightly upward, to be inserted into the lower and back part of the t ...

'' goes from the spine of the axis vertebra to the transverse process of the atlas. They are innervated by the

suboccipital nerve The suboccipital nerve (first cervical dorsal ramus) is the dorsal primary ramus of the first cervical nerve (C1). It exits the spinal cord between the skull and the first cervical vertebra, the atlas. It lies within the suboccipital triangle ...

Additional images

File:Suboccipital muscles - animation01.gif, Position of suboccipital muscles. Animation. File:Suboccipital muscles - animation04.gif, Close up. Seen from below. File:Suboccipital muscles09.png, Still image.

Additional images

See also