Full Answer
What are the muscles of the suboccipital region?
This region comprises four pairs of small muscles: These muscles mainly function as postural muscles but can also contribute to movements of the head. Three of the four muscles contribute to the formation of the boundaries of the suboccipital triangle: rectus capitis posterior major, obliquus capitis inferior and obliquus capitis superior.
How does the suboccipital triangle move the head?
Each muscle in the suboccipital triangle is responsible for its respective region and direction of movement. The rectus capitis posterior major assists with moving the head medially or rotating it inward. The obliquus capitis muscles move the head laterally, which describes outward rotation of the head.
What muscle flexes the head sideways?
This muscle is explicitly in charge of flexing your head sideways. It arises from the atlas bone and, like the rectus capitis muscles, inserts into the occipital bone. The obliquus capitis superior actually looks like two muscles, located on each side of the occipital region.
What muscles are used to bend your head?
These muscles - the obliquus capitis superior and the obliquus capitis inferior - are responsible for helping rotate your head and bend it from side to side. This muscle is explicitly in charge of flexing your head sideways. It arises from the atlas bone and, like the rectus capitis muscles, inserts into the occipital bone.
What muscle is responsible for head extension?
The suboccipital muscles are 4 pairs of small muscles that connect the top of the cervical spine with the base of the skull. The suboccipitals are needed for head extension and rotation.
What are the 4 suboccipital muscles?
The suboccipital muscles are a group of four muscles located inferior to the occipital bone. These four muscles include the rectus capitis posterior major, rectus capitis posterior minor, obliquus capitis superior, and obliquus capitis inferior.
What are the actions of suboccipital muscles?
The suboccipital muscles are a group of four paired deep muscles located at the base of the occipital bone. Their main actions are to extend and rotate the head. They consist of the rectus capitis posterior major, rectus capitis posterior minor, obliquus capitis superior and obliquus capitis inferior.
What does the rectus capitis posterior major do?
Rectus capitis posterior major muscleOriginSpinous process of axisInsertionLateral part of inferior nuchal line of occipital boneActionBilateral contraction at the atlantooccipital joint: Head extension Unilateral contraction at the atlantoaxial joint: Head rotation (ipsilateral)2 more rows•May 11, 2020
Which of the suboccipital muscles attach to the skull?
Suboccipital muscles are located below the occipital bone. These are four paired muscles on the underside of the occipital bone; the two straight muscles (rectus) and the two oblique muscles (obliquus)....Suboccipital musclesTA22248FMA71439Anatomical terms of muscle5 more rows
How do you remember the suboccipital muscles?
3:3517:11How to Remember Every Muscle in the Neck | Corporis - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThe superior muscle goes straight up and down from the transverse. Process of the axis vertebrae toMoreThe superior muscle goes straight up and down from the transverse. Process of the axis vertebrae to the skull. The inferioris is the odd one out though it connects the spinous.
What is the action of the rectus capitis posterior minor?
Rectus capitis posterior minor extends across the atlantooccipital joint. Thus when both muscles contract bilaterally they act to extend the head on the neck. This action has an important postural role, stabilizing the head while standing and during various body movements.
What is splenius cervicis?
Musculus splenius cervicis is one of the deep (or intrinsic) muscles of the cervical and thoracic spine. Its fibres run superiorly and laterally. It assists in ipsilateral cervical side flexion and rotation, when both splenius cervicis muscles contract they extend the cervical spine.
What is Splenius capitis?
Splenius capitis is a thick, flat muscle at the posterior aspect of the neck arising from the midline and extending superolaterally to the cervical vertebrae and, along with the splenius cervicis, comprise the superficial layer of intrinsic back muscles.
What does the obliquus capitis inferior do?
Obliquus capitis inferior is a skeletal muscle of the neck that is responsible for tilting and turning the head from side to side. This muscle is part of the suboccipital muscles of the neck. It is the only suboccipital muscle that does not attach to the skull.
What Innervates rectus capitis posterior major?
Suboccipital nerve[1] Nerve Supply Suboccipital nerve or dorsal ramus of cervical spinal nerve (C1). [2] Blood Supply Vertebral artery and the deep descending branch of the occipital artery.
What is semispinalis capitis?
The semispinalis capitis, which is the largest and most prominent of the posterior neck muscles, arises from the transverse process of the upper thoracic spines and is inserted into the occiput below the superior nuchal line. From: Handbook of Clinical Neurology, 2010.
Where are the suboccipital muscles located?
Suboccipital muscles are located just below the occipital bone, right where the base of your skull meets your neck. This cluster of muscles is mainly responsible for posture and movements between your skull and top vertebrae.
What muscles extend the head forward?
While they all contribute to the suboccipital muscles’ overall functions, each has its own distinctions. RECTUS CAPITIS. Made up of the rectus capitis posterior major and the rectus capitis posterior minor, the rectus capitis works to extend your head forward. RECTUS CAPITIS POSTERIOR MAJOR.
What is the suboccipital triangle?
The suboccipital triangle is made up of the rectus capitis posterior major and both of the obliquus capitis muscles. This trio provides fine motor function in movements of the head.
What is the superior obliquus?
OBLIQUUS CAPITIS SUPERIOR. This muscle is explicitly in charge of flexing your head sideways. It arises from the atlas bone and, like the rectus capitis muscles, inserts into the occipital bone. The obliquus capitis superior actually looks like two muscles, located on each side of the occipital region.
What is the Latin name for the posterior minor rectus capitis?
RECTUS CAPITIS POSTERIOR MINOR. You may have guessed it already - rectus capitis posterior minor is Latin for “lesser posterior straight muscle of the head.”. This muscle begins at the atlas, which is the spine’s first vertebra, located above the axis.
How to stop headaches from stress?
SUBOCCIPITAL STRETCH. Instead of turning to pain medication to combat stress headaches, try practicing suboccipital stretch. This can not only ward off your current headache but also prevent future ones. The most effective way of doing a suboccipital muscles stretch is with a neck workout device like the Iron Neck.
Which muscle is responsible for the direction of the head?
Each muscle in the suboccipital triangle is responsible for its respective region and direction of movement. The rectus capitis posterior major assists with moving the head medially or rotating it inward. The obliquus capitis muscles move the head laterally, which describes outward rotation of the head.
What is the suboccipital muscle?
Already a member? Log In. The suboccipital muscles are a group of four muscles situated underneath the occipital bone. All the muscles in this group are innervated by the suboccipital nerve.
Which suboccipital muscle is most medial?
The rectus capitis posterior minor is the most medial of the suboccipital muscles. There is a connective tissue bridge between this muscle and the dura mater (outer membrane of the meninges) – which may play a role in cervicogenic headaches.
Where is the rectus capitis posterior major located?
The rectus capitis posterior major is the larger of the rectus capitis muscles. It is located laterally to the rectus capitis posterior minor. Attachments: Originates from the spinous process of the C2 vertebrae (axis), and inserts into the lateral part of the inferior nuchal line of the occipital bone.
Which muscle has no attachment to the cranium?
As its name suggests, the obliquus capitis inferior is the most inferiorly positioned of the suboccipital muscles. Additionally, it is the only capitis muscle that has no attachment to the cranium. Attachments: Originates from the spinous process of the C2 vertebra, and attaches into the transverse process of C1.
Which nerve is the most medial of the suboccipital muscles?
Innervation: Suboccipital nerve (posterior ramus of C1). The rectus capitis posterior minor is the most medial of the suboccipital muscles. There is a connective tissue bridge between this muscle and the dura mater (outer membrane of the meninges) - which may play a role in cervicogenic headaches.
Which muscle is inferior to the cranium?
As its name suggests, the obliquus capitis inferior is the most inferiorly positioned of the suboccipital muscles. Additionally, it is the only capitis muscle that has no attachment to the cranium.
Where is the obliquus capitis superior located?
Obliquus Capitis Superior. The obliquus capitis superior is located laterally in the suboccipital compartment. Attachments: Originates from the transverse process of C1 and attaches into the occipital bone (between the superior and inferior nuchal lines). Actions: Extension of the head.
What are the muscles in the suboccipital triangle?
The suboccipital triangle is paired and consists of three muscles: rectus capitis posterior major, obliquus capitis superior, and obliquus capitis inferior. The function of the muscles in this triangle are to extend and rotate the head. The 3 boundaries are:
Which muscle group is responsible for postural support of the head?
The suboccipital muscle group contains four paired muscles, three of which pairs belong to the suboccipital triangle. These muscles all lie below the occipital bone and are responsible for postural support of the head, as well as extension, lateral flexion and rotation. As these muscles are small and act in unison, they will be discussed in this single article, rather than individual articles.
What muscles support the head?
Below is a review of the muscles that support the head: The sub occipital muscles , as the name suggests, are muscles located below the occipital bone. These muscles are the storage center for a great deal of the head and neck tension that so many people feel. They are rectus capitis posterior major and minor & obliquus capitis inferior & superior;
What is the sub occipital muscle?
The sub occipital muscles connect the head to the spine through two bones at the top of the spine that are vertebrae but very different from the rest of the spinal vertebrae. These bones are called the atlas and the axis. The atlas is the bone at the top of the spine and the axis sits directly below the atlas.
Which muscles are directly connected to the eyes?
The suboccipital muscles have a number of significant features that set them apart from other muscles. They are the only muscles that are directly connected to the eyes. When your eyes receive information about space and movement, this information is related to the sub occipital muscles and then from the sub occipitals to the rest of the spine.
Which bones are responsible for extending and rotating the upper spine and the head?
The atlas is the bone at the top of the spine and the axis sits directly below the atlas. These two bones allow a greater range of motion than normal vertebrae and are responsible, with the help of the sub occipitals, for extending and rotating the upper spine and the head.
Which muscle is located on top of the spine?
These muscles will only work as designed if our head is successfully on top of the spine. The suboccipital muscles have a number of significant features that set them apart from other muscles. They are the only muscles that are directly ...
What is the rectus capitus posterior minor?
The rectus capitus posterior minor, actually sends its connective fibers into the dura matter, a protective layer surrounding the brain and the spinal cord. Start watching heads and where they are in space. The ears are meant to live back in line with the shoulders and the chin and eye sockets are meant to be level to the ground. ...
