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 cer ...

. Suboccipital muscles are located below 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 c ...

. 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'' goes from the spinous process of the axis (C2) to the occipital bone. *'' Rectus capitis posterior minor'' goes from the middle of the posterior arch of the atlas to the occipit. *'' 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

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.

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See also