The obliquus capitis superior muscle () is a small muscle in the upper back part of the neck and is one of the

suboccipital muscles The suboccipital muscles are a group of muscles defined by their location to the occiput. Suboccipital muscles are located below the occipital bone. These are four paired muscles on the underside of the occipital bone; the two straight muscles ('' ...

and part of the

suboccipital triangle The suboccipital triangle is a region of the neck bounded by the following three muscles of the suboccipital group of muscles: * Rectus capitis posterior major - above and medially * Obliquus capitis superior - above and laterally * Obliquus cap ...

. It arises from the lateral mass of the

atlas bone In anatomy, the atlas (C1) is the most superior (first) cervical vertebra of the spine and is located in the neck. It is named for Atlas of Greek mythology because, just as Atlas supported the globe, it supports the entire head. The atlas is t ...

. It passes superiorly and posteriorly to insert into the lateral half of the inferior nuchal line on the external surface of the occipital bone. The muscle is 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 ...

, the

dorsal ramus The dorsal ramus of spinal nerve (or posterior ramus of spinal nerve, or posterior primary division) is the posterior division of a spinal nerve. The dorsal ramus (Latin for branch, plural ''rami'' ) is the dorsal branch of a spinal nerve that form ...

of the

first First or 1st is the ordinal form of the number one (#1). First or 1st may also refer to: *World record, specifically the first instance of a particular achievement Arts and media Music * 1$T, American rapper, singer-songwriter, DJ, and rec ...

spinal nerve. It acts at the

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 join ...

to extend the head and flex the head to the

ipsilateral Standard anatomical terms of location are used to unambiguously describe the anatomy of animals, including humans. The terms, typically derived from Latin or Greek roots, describe something in its standard anatomical position. This position prov ...

side.

Additional images

File:Obliquus capitis superior muscle - animation04.gif, Position of obliquus capitis superior (shown in red). Animation. File:Obliquus capitis superior muscle05.png, Still image. Posterior view. File:Obliquus capitis superior.png, Deep muscles of the back (obliquus capitis superior labeled at upper left) File:Gray129.png, Occipital bone. Outer surface. Muscle attachments are shown as red circles. File:Gray187.png,

Base of skull The base of skull, also known as the cranial base or the cranial floor, is the most inferior area of the skull. It is composed of the endocranium and the lower parts of the calvaria. Structure Structures found at the base of the skull are for ...

. Inferior surface. Muscle attachments are shown as red circles.

References

External links

* {{Authority control Muscles of the head and neck