Muscles of the Neck : Suboccipitals

Question 1

List all 4 of the suboccipital muscles.

Answer 1

Rectus capitis Posterior major
Rectus capitis Posterior minor
Obliquus Capitis inferior
Obliquus Capitis Superior

Question 2

The Rectus capitis posterior major muscle attaches from where to where and is responsible for what actions unilat and bilat?

Answer 2

SP of C2 - inferior nuchal line

unilat = ipsilat Rot and the head

bilat = Extend the head on the neck

Question 3

The rectus capitis posterior minor muscle attaches from where to where? And is responsible for what action bilat?

Answer 3

Posterior arch of C1 - inferior nuchal line

Bilat = extends head on neck

Question 4

Obliquus capitis inferior attaches from where to where and is responsible for what action unilat?

Answer 4

SP of C2 - TVP of C1

unilat = ipsilat rotation of the head

Question 5

Obliquus capitis superior attaches from where to where and is responsible for what action unilat and bilat?

Answer 5

TVP of C1 - between the superior and inferior nuchal line.

unilat = lateral flexion of the head on the neck

bilat = extend the head on the neck

Question 6

Which one of the 4 suboccipital muscles can be attached to the dura mater which can result in headaches. It can also effect normal CSF flow and disrupt the function of the vertebral artery and the suboccipital nerve.

Answer 6

Rectus capitis posterior minor

Question 7

Looking in what directions makes the suboccipitals contract and release?

Answer 7

up = contract
down = release

Question 8

Looking up causes the suboccipitals to ___ and looking down causes them to ___?

Answer 8

up = contract
down = Release

Question 9

The ______ attaches from SP of C2 to the inferior nuchal line.

Answer 9

Rectus capitis posterior major

Question 10

Which of the suboccipital muscles are responsible for unilat ipsilat rot of the head AND Bilat extending the head on the neck?

Answer 10

Rectus capitis posterior major

Question 11

The ___ muscle attaches from the posterior arch of C1 to inferior nuchal line.

Answer 11

Rectus capitis posterior minor

Question 12

Which suboccipital muscle is just responsible for bilat extending the head on the neck?

Answer 12

Rectus capitis Posterior minor

Question 13

The ___ muscle attaches from the TVP of C1 to between the superior and inferior nuchal lines.

Answer 13

Obliquus capitis superior

Question 14

Which suboccipital muscle is responsible for unilat lateral flexion of the head on neck AND bilat extending the head on the neck.

Answer 14

Obliquus capitis Superior

Question 15

The ___ muscle attaches from the SP of C2 to the TVP of C1.

Answer 15

Obliquus capitis inferior

Question 16

Which suboccipital is responsible for unilat ipsilat rotation of the head?

Answer 16

Obliquus capitis inferior

Question 17

Which suboccipital is the key muscle for rotating C1 on C2?

Answer 17

Obliquus capitis inferior

Question 18

The suboccipital triangle is defined by which 3 out of the 4 suboccipital muscles?

Answer 18

Obliquus capitis inferior
Obliquus capitis superior
Rectus capitis psoterior major

Question 19

What are the structures contained in the suboccipital triangle?

Answer 19

Vertebral artery

suboccipital nerve

Question 20

Which suboccipital makes up the inferior lateral border of the suboccipital triangle?

Answer 20

obliquus capitis inferior

Question 21

Which suboccipital makes up the Superolateral border of the suboccipital triangle?

Answer 21

Obliquus capitis superior

Question 22

Which suboccipital makes up the superomedial border of the suboccipital triangle?

Answer 22

rectus capitis posterior major

Question 23

What larger neck muscle runs over the suboccipital triangle making a “roof”?

Answer 23

Semispinalis