Suboccipital Musculature

Question 1

What muscles are included in the suboccipital muscle group?

Answer 1

• rectus capitis posterior major
• rectus capitis posterior minor
• obliquus capitis inferior
• obliquus capitis superior

Question 2

Which suboccipital muscle lacks an attachment to the skull?

Answer 2

obliquus capitis inferior

Question 3

Which nerve will innervate all suboccipital muscles?

Answer 3

the dorsal ramus of C1, the suboccipital nerve

Question 4

What is the origin of the rectus capitis posterior major?

Answer 4

the spinous tubercle of C2

Question 5

What is the insertion of the rectus capitis posterior major?

Answer 5

inferior nuchal line laterally

Question 6

Contraction of rectus capitis posterior major will result in what movements?

Answer 6

• turns the face to the side

- bilaterally acts to extend the head

Question 7

What is the origin of the rectus capitis posterior minor?

Answer 7

the posterior tubercle of the posterior arch of C1

Question 8

What is the insertion of the rectus capitis posterior minor?

Answer 8

inferior nuchal line medially

Question 9

Contraction of rectus capitis posterior minor will result in what movements?

Answer 9

extends the head

Question 10

What is the origin of the obliquus capitis inferior?

Answer 10

C2 spinous process and lamina

Question 11

What is the insertion of the obliquus capitis inferior?

Answer 11

transverse process of C1

Question 12

Contraction of obliquus capitis inferior will result in what movements?

Answer 12

turns the face to the side

Question 13

What is the origin of the obliquus capitis superior?

Answer 13

the posterior tubercle of the transverse process of C1

Question 14

What is the insertion of the obliquus capitis superior?

Answer 14

between superior nuchal line and inferior nuchal line

Question 15

Contraction of obliquus capitis superior will result in what movements?

Answer 15

• lateral flexion and lateral bending of the head

- bilaterally acts to extend the head

Question 16

An increase in the density of muscle spindles is most apparent in which suboccipital muscle?

Answer 16

obliquus capitis inferior

Question 17

Suboccipital muscle feedback relays to what additional locations in the brain?

Answer 17

• extraocular nuclei of origin
• primary visual cortex
• vestibular nuclei

Question 18

What is the result of communication between suboccipital muscles, visual centers, and vestibular centers?

Answer 18

coordination of head and eye position

Question 19

What is the proposed function of the suboccipital muscle group?

Answer 19

postural stabilizers of the atlanto-occipital and atlanto-axial joints

Question 20

Which suboccipital muscles are known to attach to dura mater?

Answer 20

• rectus capitis posterior major
• rectus capitis posterior minor
• obliquus capitis inferior