Sem 2 - Q - Suboccipital region - Trapezius/Splenius/Semispinalis/Longissimus, Suboccipital muscles/triangle, vessels/ligaments Flashcards
When looking at the muscles of the posterior neck region, we can divide the muscles into
- * Superficial - trapezius
- * Intermediate - splenius muscles
- * Deep - Semispinalis and longissimus muscles
And then we reach the suboccipital muscles
State the attachments, nerve supply and function of the trapezius muslces?
Attaches from the medial 1/3rd of the superior nuchal line, the nuchal ligament, the spinous processes of C7-T12 and inserts into the lateral clavicle, acromion and spine of the scapula
- Motor innervation - Spinal accessory nerve (CN XI)
- Pain and proprioception - anterior rami C3,4 spinal nerves
Function
- * Upper (descending) fibres elevate the scapulae and rotate glenoid cavity
- * Middle fibres retract the scapula
- * Lower (ascending) fibres depress the scapula
When looking at the muscles of the posterior neck region, we can divide the muscles into
- * Superficial - trapezius
- * Intermediate - splenius muscles
- * Deep - Semispinalis and longissimus muscles
And then we reach the suboccipital muscles
There are two splenius muscles, splenius capitis and cervicis
- What are the attachments of splenius capitis and cervicis?
Splenius capitis attaches from nuchal ligament and spinous process of C7-T3/4 The capitis fibres then ascend to the mastoid process and lateral 1/3rd of the superior nuchal line
Splenius cervicis attaches from spinous processes of T3-T6 to the posterior tubercles of transverse processes of C1-C3/4

What is the function and nerve supply of the splenius muscles?
Bilateral contraction will extend the head and neck
Unilateral contraction will laterally flex and rotate the head to the same side
- Splenius capitis and cervicis are innervated by posterior rami C1-C6 spinal nerves
Restate the attachments of the splenius capitis and cervicis
Splenius capitis - nuchal ligament and spinous processes of C7-T3/4 to the mastoid process & lateral 1/3rd of the superior nuchal line
Splenius cervicis- spinous processes of T3-T6 to the posterior tubercles of transverse processes C1-C3/4

Restate the function and nerve supply to the splenius muscles
Function
- Bilateral contraction will extend the head and neck
- Unilateral contraction will laterally flex and rotate the head to the same side
ALL SUPPLIED BY POSTERIOR RAMI C1-C6

When looking at the muscles of the posterior neck region, we can divide the muscles into
- * Superficial - trapezius
- * Intermediate - splenius muscles
- * Deep - Semispinalis and longissimus muscles
The longissimus capitis and semisppinalis capitis lie deep to the splenius muscles
- What is the attachments of the longissimus capitis?
Longissimus capitis attaches from the transverse processes of C4-T3 and inserts into the mastoid process
What is the attachments of the semispinalis capitis?
Semispinalis capitis attaches between the transverse process of C4-T7 to the occipital bone between the nuchal lines
State the different functions of the longissimus capitis and semispinalis capitis What is the nerve supply to these muscles?
Longissimus capitis
- Bilateral contraction - extends the head
- Unilateral contraction - laterally flexes and rotates the head to the same side
Semispinalis capitis
- Bilateral contraction - extends the cervical spine
- Unilateral contraction - laterally flexes & rotates cervical spine to same side
Supplied by posterior rami

STATE THE ATTACHMENTS, FUNCTION AND NERVE SUPPLY OF THE LONGISSIMUS AND SEMISPINALIS CAPITIS
ALL SUPPLIED BY POSTERIOR RAMI OF SPINAL NERVES
Longissimus capitis -
- C4-T3 transverse processes to the mastoid process
- * Function - Bilateral contraction extends the head, unilateral contraction laterally flexes and rotates head to the same side
Semispinalis capitis -
- C4-T7 transverse processes the occipital bone between the nuchal lines
- * Function - Bilateral contraction extends the cervical spine, unilateral contraction laterally flexes and rotates the cervical spine to the same side
When looking at the muscles of the posterior neck region, we can divide the muscles into
- * Superficial - trapezius
- * Intermediate - splenius muscles
- * Deep - Semispinalis and longissimus muscles
And then we reach the suboccipital muscles The suboccipital muscles are a group of 4 muscles ituated beneath the occipital bone.
- * WHAT ARE THESE FOUR MUSCLES?
- * WHAT NERVE ARE THEY ALL SUPPLIED BY?
- Rectus capitis posterior major
- Rectus capitis posterior minor
- Obliquus capitis superior
- Obliquus capitis inferior
All supplied by the suboccipital nerve (posterior rami of C1)

What is the attachments of the rectus capitis posterior major and rectus capitis posterior minor?
- Rectus capitis posterior major - attaches from C2 spinous process to the inferior nuchal line
- Rectus capitis posterior minor - attaches from posterior tubercle of C1 to inferior nuchal line

What is the function of rectus capitis posterior major and minor? What is the nerve supply?
Rectus capitis posterior major and minor
- Bilateral contraction extend head
- Unilateral contraction will rotate head to same side
Nerve supply - Suboccpital nerve (posterior rami C1)
RESTATE THE ATTACHMENT, FUNCTION AND NERVE SUPPLY OF
- * Rectus capitis posterior major
- * Rectus capitis posterior minor
Rectus capitis posterior major - spinous process of C2 to inferior nuchal line
Rectus capitis posterior minor - posterior tubercle of C1 to inferior nuchal line
- Bilateral contraction - extension of the head
- Unilateral contraction - rotation of the head to the same side
- Innervation - Suboccipital nerve (posterior rami C1)

What is the attachment of the obliquus capitis superior and the obliquus capitis inferior?
- Obliquus capitis superior - C1 transverse process to the occipital bone above the inferior nuchal line
- Obliquus capitis inferior - C2 spinous process to the C1 transverse process

What are the separate functions of the obliquus capitis superior and inferior?
Obliquus capitis superior -
- Bilateral contraction - extends the head
- Unilateral contraction - tilts head to same side (lateral flexion) and rotates head to opposite side
Obliquus capitis inferior -
- Bilateral contraction - extends the head
- Unilateral contraction - rotates head to same side

RESTATE THE MUSCLE ATTACHMENTS, FUNCTION AND NERVE SUPPLY FOR ALL THE SUBOCCPITAL MUSCLES
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The suboccipital triangle is an area bordered by three of the suboccipital muscles. Which three muscles form borders of the suboccipital triangle and what is found in this triangle?
- Superomedial border - rectus capitis posterior major
- Superolateral border - obliquus capitis superior
- Inferior border - obliquus capitis inferior
Contents
- Vertebral artery
- Suboccipital venous plexus
- Soboccipital nerve

Where do the vertebral arteries arise? How do they reach the circle of willis?
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The occipital veins drain the posterior aspect of the scalp What does the occipital vein join and where does this drain?
The occipital vein will drain into the deep cervical vein which will drain into the lower aspect of the vertebral vein near the transverse process of C7

How are the vertebral veins formed?
The veretebral vein is formed in the suboccipital triangle from many small veins of the internal venous plexus forming a vessel which will pass through the transverse foramen of C1 to C6
It will then leave the transverse foramen and drain into the brachiocephalic veins

What joint does the nodding of the head exist at? What joint does the shaking of the head exist at? Name the types of joint
Nodding of the head
- Atlanto-occipital joint Synovial ellipsoid joint
Shaking of the head
- Atlanto-axial joint Synovial pivot and synovial plane at articular facets

Where does the posterior longitudinal ligament start and run to? What is the superior extension of this ligament known as?
The posterior longitduinal ligament runs within the vertebral canal on the posterior aspect of the vertebral bodies from C2 to the sacrum
The superior extension of this is known as the tectorial membrane (of the atlanto-axial joint)

Running anterior to the tectorial membrane is the cruicate ligament of the atlas What forms this ligament? State the attachments
Cruciate ligament
Superior longitduinal band ascending to attach to the anterior free edge of the foramen magnum
- Transverse ligament of atlas connecting both lateral masses of the atlas and passing posterior to the odontoid process
- Inferior longitudinal band descending to attach to the body of the axis

What do the fibres of the anterior longtidudinal ligament blend with superiorly and where does this attach?
ALL fibres blend posterolaterally with the anterior atlantooccipital membrane which attaches from the anterior arch of the atlas to the anterior margin of the foramen magnum

What movements are possible at the atlanto-occipital joint?
Flexion
Extension
Lateral flexion

Which muscles can bring about extension at the atlanto-occipital joint?
- Sternocleidomastoid
- Rectus capitis posterior major and minor
- Obliquus capitis superior and inferior
- Splenius capitis
- Longissimus capitis
ROTATION at the AA joint will usually occur during unilateral contraction
Which muscles will bring about rotation at the antlanto-axial joints?
Which 3 will cause rotation to the contralateral side?
Contralateral rotation
- Sternocleidomastoid
- Semispinalis capitis
- Obliquus capitis superior
Ipsilateral rotation
- Splenius capitis and cervicis
- Longissimus capitis
- Rectus capitis posterior major and minor
- Obliquus capitis inferior

What type of joints are between C2-C7?
Plane synovial joints at the articular facets
Secondary cartilaginous joints between vertebra bodies

What is the difference in the SCM action on the head and neck?
Bilateral contraction will cause extension of the head
Bilateral contraction will cause flexion of the neck when supine
Unilateral contraction will laterally flex the neck and rotate the neck to the contralteral side
