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 (rectus) and the two oblique muscles (obliquus).

The muscles are named

• Rectus capitis posterior major (musculus rectus capitis dorsalis major) goes from the spinous process of the axis (C2) to the occipital bone.
• Rectus capitis posterior minor (musculus rectus capitis dorsalis minor) goes from the middle of the posterior arch of the atlas to the occiput.
• Obliquus capitis superior goes from the transverse process of the atlas to the occiput.
• Obliquus capitis inferior goes from the spine of the axis vertebra to the transverse process of the atlas.

They are innervated by the suboccipital nerve.

Additional images

See also

• Suboccipital triangle