Suboccipital Region

Question 1

What are the attachments of obliquus capitis inferior?

Answer 1

C2 spinous process

To C1 transverse process

Question 2

What is the role of Obliquus capitis superior?

Answer 2

Extends head
Tilts head to same side
Rotates head to opposite side

Question 3

What is this muscle?

Answer 3

Splenius cervicis

Question 4

What is this muscle?

Answer 4

Semispinalis Capitis

Question 5

What muscles lie either side of the vertebral artery in the suboccipital triangle?

Answer 5

Obliquus capitus muscles and the rectus capitis posterior major

Question 6

Which of the cervical vertebrae are typical in shape?

Answer 6

C3 - C6

Question 7

What are the movements of the rectus capitis muscles?

Answer 7

Extends the head

Rotate to the same side

Question 8

Through which foramen do the vertebral arteries ascend the neck in?

Answer 8

Foramen transversarium of the cervical vertebrae

Question 9

What movement occurs between atlas (C1) and the occipital condyles of the skull?

Answer 9

Nodding (yes) movement

Question 10

What are the 4 muscles that attach to the mastoid process?

Answer 10

SCM
Posterior belly of digastric
Splenius Capitis
Longissimus Capitis

Question 11

What are the attachments of obliquus capitis superior?

Answer 11

C1 transverse process

To occipital bone (above the inferior nuchal line)

Question 12

What are the attachments of rectus capitis posterior minor?

Answer 12

C1 posterior tubercle

To inferior nuchal line

Question 13

What are the attachments of rectus capitis posterior major?

Answer 13

C2 spinous process

To the inferior nuchal line

Question 14

What is this muscle?

Answer 14

Splenius capitis

Question 15

What is this muscle?

Answer 15

Rectus capitis posterior minor

Question 16

What artery supplies the occipital region?

Answer 16

The occipital artery

which then descends to anastomose with the deep cervical artery of the subclavian

Question 17

What muscles are contained within the intermediate layer of the suboccipital region?

Answer 17

Splenius capitus

Splenius cervicis

Question 18

What are the superficial muscles of the suboccipital region?

Answer 18

Trapezius
Levator Scapulae
Proximal attachment of the SCM

Question 19

What are the attachments of longissimis capitis?

Answer 19

C4-T3 transverse process

Inserts into the mastoid process

Question 20

What foramen do the vertebral arteries pass through to enter the skull?

Answer 20

Foramen Magnum

Question 21

What supplies cutaneous innervation to the suboccipital region?

Answer 21

The greater and lesser occipital nerves from the cervical plexus

Question 22

What does the posterior longitudinal ligament of the occipital region become?

Answer 22

Tectorial membrane

Question 23

What is the attachments of splenius cervicis?

Answer 23

T3-T6 spinous process

To C1-C2 transverse process

Question 24

Describe the union of the left and right vertebral arteries

Answer 24

Unite to form the basilar artery which join the Circle of Willis to supply the brain

Question 25

What are the movements associated with splenius capitis and cervicis?

Answer 25

Bilaterally - extend the head and neck | Unilaterally - flexes and rotates to the same side

Question 26

Which structure runs with the occipital vein?

Answer 26

Suboccipital nerve

Question 27

What movement occurs between the arch of atlas (C1) and the odontoid process of the axis (C2)?

Answer 27

Shaking (no) movement

Question 28

What does the dorsal ramus of C3 supply?

Answer 28

The skin and muscles of the neck

Question 29

What is this muscle?

Answer 29

Longissimus Capitis

Question 30

What is this muscle?

Answer 30

Obliquus capitis superior

Question 31

What is this muscle?

Answer 31

Obliquus capitis inferior

Question 32

What are the movements of semispinalis capitis?

Answer 32

Both extends the cervical spine | One will bend to the same side and rotate to the opposite side

Question 33

What movements occur at the cervical vertebrae?

Answer 33

Flexion Extension Lateral Bending Rotation

Question 34

What vein do the occipital veins join with?

Answer 34

Deep cervical vein

Question 35

What is the innervation of the suboccipital muscles?

Answer 35

Suboccipital nerve- origin is the posterior ramus of C1

Question 36

What are the movements of longissimus capitis?

Answer 36

Extends the head (both) | Flexes and rotates the head to the same side

Question 37

What are the attachments of semispinalis capitis?

Answer 37

Transverse processes of C4-T7 | Inserts into occipital bone between the nuchal lines

Question 38

Which veins does the deep cervical vein communicate with?

Answer 38

Vertebral veins | Brachiocephalic vein

Question 39

What are the attachments of splenius capitis?

Answer 39

Ligamentum nuchae and C7-T3 spinous processes | Inserts into occipital bone (superior nuchal) and mastoid

Question 40

What is this muscle?

Answer 40

Rectus capitis posterior major

Question 41

What is the large non-bifid process of C7 called?

Answer 41

Vertebra Prominens

Question 42

What are the suboccipital muscles (4)?

Answer 42

Rectus capitis posterior major Rectus capitis posterior minor Obliquus capitis superior Obliquus capitis inferior

Question 43

What is the innervation of splenius capitus and cervicis?

Answer 43

Posterior rami of C1-C6

Question 44

What forms the cruciate ligament of the axis and occipital bone?

Answer 44

Transverse ligament of atlas | Superior and Inferior longitudinal ligaments

Question 45

What are the attachments of the alar ligament of the occipital region?

Answer 45

Passes from the dens of the axis (C2) to the medial sides of the occipital condyles