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 An axis (plural ''axes'') is an imaginary line around which an object rotates or is symmetrical. Axis may also refer to: Mathematics * Axis of rotation: see rotation around a fixed axis * Axis (mathematics), a designator for a Cartesian-coordinat ...

, and, becoming broader as it ascends, is inserted into the lateral part of the

inferior nuchal line Inferior may refer to: * Inferiority complex * An anatomical term of location * Inferior angle of the scapula, in the human skeleton * ''Inferior'' (book), by Angela Saini * ''The Inferior'', a 2007 novel by Peadar Ó Guilín See also *Junior (d ...

of the

occipital bone 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 cer ...

and the surface of the bone immediately below the line. A soft tissue connection bridging from the rectus capitis posterior major to the cervical

dura mater In neuroanatomy, dura mater is a thick membrane made of dense irregular connective tissue that surrounds the brain and spinal cord. It is the outermost of the three layers of membrane called the meninges that protect the central nervous system. ...

was described in 2011. Various clinical manifestations may be linked to this anatomical relationship. It has also been postulated that this connection serves as a monitor of dural tension along with the

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 ...

and the

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 tr ...

. As the muscles of the two sides pass upward and lateralward, they leave between them a triangular space, in which the

is seen. Its main actions are to extend and rotate 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 ...

Additional images

File:Rectus_capitis_posterior_major_muscle_animation_small.gif, Position of rectus capitis posterior major muscle (shown in red). File:Rectus capitis posterior major.png, Rectus capitis posterior major muscle. File:Gray129.png, Occipital bone. Outer surface. File:Suboccipital triangle dissection.jpg, Rectus capitis posterior major's relationship to other suboccipital muscles.

References

External links

PTCentral
* * Muscles of the head and neck {{muscle-stub