| Suboccipital muscles | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Details | |
| Identifiers | |
| Latin | musculi suboccipitales |
| TA98 | A04.2.02.001 |
| TA2 | 2248 |
| FMA | 71439 |
| Anatomical terms of muscle | |
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.
