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The suboccipital muscles are a group of four muscles located underneath the occipital bone in the neck. They are responsible for maintaining posture and facilitating movements of the head, including extension, lateral flexion, and rotation. These muscles are closely associated with the vertebral artery and the suboccipital nerve, which are important anatomical landmarks for surgeons operating in the posterior cervical region. Understanding the suboccipital muscles is crucial as trigger points in this area are a common cause of tension headaches and migraines.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of muscles | 4 |
| Muscle names | Rectus capitis posterior major, rectus capitis posterior minor, obliquus capitis superior, and obliquus capitis inferior |
| Location | Underneath the occipital bone |
| Function | Provide postural support to the head and neck, allow neck extension and rotation movements, and initiate and control fine movements |
| Innervation | Suboccipital nerve |
| Blood supply | Muscular artery branching off the vertebral artery |
| Clinical significance | Trigger points in the suboccipital muscles can cause tension headaches |
| Surgical significance | The suboccipital triangle, formed by three of the suboccipital muscles, is used as a landmark during posterior cervical surgeries to locate the vertebral artery and suboccipital nerve |
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What You'll Learn
The suboccipital muscles are a group of four muscles
The rectus capitis posterior major is the larger of the two rectus muscles. It 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. The rectus capitis posterior minor, the most medial of the suboccipital muscles, originates from the posterior tubercle of the C1 vertebra and attaches to the medial part of the inferior nuchal line of the occipital bone.
The obliquus capitis inferior is the most inferiorly positioned of the suboccipital muscles and is the only one in the group with no attachment to the cranium. It originates from the spinous process of the C2 vertebra and attaches to the transverse process of C1. The obliquus capitis superior is located laterally in the suboccipital compartment. It originates from the transverse process of C1 and attaches to the occipital bone between the superior and inferior nuchal lines.
The suboccipital muscles are innervated by the suboccipital nerve and supplied by the vertebral artery and the deep descending branches of the occipital artery. They function primarily to maintain posture, but they also contribute to movements of the head, including extension, lateral flexion, and rotation at the atlanto-axial joints.
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They are located underneath the occipital bone
The suboccipital muscles are a group of four muscles situated underneath the occipital bone. They are located within the suboccipital compartment of the neck, underneath the sternocleidomastoid, trapezius, splenius, and semispinalis muscles.
The suboccipital muscles are defined by their location relative to the occiput, the underside of the occipital bone. These four paired muscles consist of two straight muscles (rectus) and two oblique muscles (obliquus). The rectus muscles are the rectus capitis posterior major and the rectus capitis posterior minor. The rectus capitis posterior major is the larger of the two and is located laterally to the rectus capitis posterior minor. The rectus capitis posterior major 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. The rectus capitis posterior minor, the most medial of the suboccipital muscles, originates from the posterior tubercle (a rudimentary spinous process) of the C1 vertebra and attaches to the medial part of the inferior nuchal line of the occipital bone.
The obliquus muscles are the obliquus capitis superior and the obliquus capitis inferior. The obliquus capitis superior is smaller than the obliquus capitis inferior and originates from the transverse process of the atlas (C1 vertebra). It ascends dorsally, expanding in width, to insert between the superior and inferior nuchal lines on the occipital bone, laterally to the semispinalis capitis. The obliquus capitis inferior is the only suboccipital muscle that does not attach to the cranium. It originates from the posterior tubercle of the posterior arch of the axis (C2 vertebra) and inserts into the transverse process of the atlas.
The suboccipital muscles collectively act to extend and rotate the head. They are also involved in maintaining posture and producing movements of the head, including extension, lateral flexion, and rotation at the atlanto-axial joints.
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They are innervated by the suboccipital nerve
The suboccipital muscles are a group of four muscles located underneath the occipital bone. They are the deepest muscles in this region, located under the trapezius, splenius capitis, and semispinalis capitis muscles. The suboccipital muscles are defined by their location to the occiput, with four paired muscles on the underside of the occipital bone: two straight muscles (rectus) and two oblique muscles (obliquus).
The suboccipital muscles are innervated by the suboccipital nerve, which is the dorsal ramus of the first cervical nerve (C1). The suboccipital nerve emerges from the central canal to travel between the posterior arch of C1 inferiorly and the vertebral artery superiorly. It then enters the suboccipital triangle, which is bordered by three of the suboccipital muscles: the rectus capitis posterior major muscle medially, the obliquus capitis inferior muscle inferiorly, and the obliquus capitis superior muscle laterally.
The suboccipital nerve provides motor innervation to the following muscles within the suboccipital triangle: rectus capitis posterior major, rectus capitis posterior minor, obliquus capitis superior, obliquus capitis inferior, and the semispinalis capitis. These muscles work together to provide postural control of the head and neck, allowing for movements such as extension, lateral flexion, and rotation at the atlanto-axial joints.
The suboccipital nerve also occasionally provides cutaneous innervation to the scalp by sending a cutaneous branch that travels with the occipital artery and connects with the greater and lesser occipital nerves. This cutaneous branch may play a role in cervicogenic headaches and occipital neuralgia.
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They are responsible for maintaining posture and moving the head
The suboccipital muscles are a group of four paired muscles located underneath the occipital bone, in the suboccipital region of the neck. This region is a muscle compartment, inferior to the external occipital protuberance and the inferior nuchal line. These muscles are defined by their location relative to the occiput.
The four pairs of suboccipital muscles are:
- Rectus capitis posterior major
- Rectus capitis posterior minor
- Obliquus capitis superior
- Obliquus capitis inferior
These muscles function primarily to maintain posture. They also contribute to movements of the head, including extension, lateral flexion, and rotation at the atlanto-axial joints. The rectus capitis posterior major and minor, and the obliquus capitis inferior, facilitate rotation to the ipsilateral side. The obliquus capitis superior is responsible for extension and lateral flexion.
The suboccipital muscles have a higher density of muscle spindles per gram than other muscles in the upper cervical region. These muscle spindles are crucial for controlling movement and posture in mammals. The small size of the suboccipital muscles means they are at a mechanical disadvantage during movement, compared to larger muscles like the trapezius and splenius muscles.
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Suboccipital syndrome and tension headaches can be caused by trigger points in these muscles
The suboccipital muscles are a group of four muscles located underneath the occipital bone, at the base of the skull. They are involved in maintaining posture and facilitating head movements, including extension, lateral flexion, and rotation.
Suboccipital syndrome is a condition that arises from shortened or spasming suboccipital muscles. This can cause pain in the posterior neck and skull, radiating to the side of the head and behind the eye. Suboccipital syndrome is often treated with patient-specific approaches, which may include physical therapy techniques such as heat or ice application, soft tissue mobilization, and muscle energy techniques.
Tension headaches are the most common type of headache, typically caused by stress and tension. They manifest as a constant ache affecting both sides of the head. Suboccipital syndrome and tension headaches can be related, as trigger points in the suboccipital muscles are identified as a common cause of tension headaches. Trigger points refer to hyperirritable regions in the muscle fascia that are painful when compressed. When present in the suboccipital muscles, these trigger points can lead to referred pain over the temporal and occipital bones, resulting in a bilateral headache.
The rectus capitis posterior major and minor, obliquus capitis inferior, and obliquus capitis superior muscles form the boundaries of the suboccipital triangle, which contains vital structures such as the vertebral artery and the suboccipital nerve. Spasms or trigger points in these muscles can irritate the suboccipital nerve, contributing to tension headaches.
Identifying and addressing trigger points in the suboccipital muscles can help alleviate tension headaches. This can be achieved through physical therapy, massage therapy, and techniques like the Graston Technique, which aim to decrease muscle spasms, improve flexibility, and normalize the musculoskeletal system. Additionally, self-massage, chin retractions, and certain myofascial release strategies, such as ART, Graston, FAKTR, acupuncture, and dry needling, can provide temporary relief from trigger point-related tension headaches.
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Frequently asked questions
The suboccipital muscles are a group of four muscles located underneath the occipital bone in the neck. They are also referred to as the suboccipitals.
The suboccipitals help maintain posture and produce movements of the head, including extension, lateral flexion, and rotation at the atlanto-axial joints. They also work to keep the head balanced on top of the spine.
The suboccipital triangle is an area bordered by three of the four suboccipital muscles: the rectus capitis posterior major, obliquus capitis inferior, and obliquus capitis superior. It contains the vertebral artery, suboccipital venous plexus, and suboccipital nerve.
Trigger points in the suboccipital muscles are a common cause of tension headaches. Suboccipital syndrome, caused by shortened suboccipital muscles or spasms, can also lead to pain in the posterior neck and skull.
