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Regional Anatomy > Suboccipital region > Flashcards

Suboccipital region Flashcards

1
Q

what is the origin of the suboccipital nerve

A

C1 posterior rami

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2
Q

what is the origin of the greater occipital nerve

A

C2 posterior rami

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3
Q

what is the origin of the lesser occipital nerve

A

C2-C3 anterior rami

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4
Q

what is the course of the suboccipital nerve

A

runs between cranium and C1 vertebra to reach suboccipital triangle

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5
Q

what is the course of the greater occipital nerve

A

emerges inferior to obliquus capitis inferior and ascends to posterior scalp

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6
Q

what is the course of the lesser occipital nerve

A

passes directly to skin

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7
Q

what is the distribution of the suboccipital nerve

A

muscles of suboccipital triangle

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8
Q

what is the distribution of the greater occipital nerve

A

skin over neck and occipital bone

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9
Q

what is the distribution of the lesser occipital nerve

A

skin of superior posterolateral neck and scalp posterior to external ear

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10
Q

what is the distribution of the posterior rami of C3-7

A

intrinsic muscles of the back and overlying skin (adjacent to vertebral column)

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11
Q

what is the most superficial muscle of the suboccipital region

A

trapezius
part of levator scapulae and SCM can also be seen

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12
Q

what muscles form the intermediate layer of the suboccipital region

A

splenius capitis and splenius cervicis

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13
Q

what is the innervation of splenius capitis and cervicis

A

posterior rami C1-6

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14
Q

what are the attachments of splenius capitis

A

ligamentum nuchae and C7-T3 spinous processes to occipital bone (superior nuchal) and mastoid

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15
Q

what are the attachments of splenius cervicis

A

T3-T6 spinous processes to C1-C2 transverse processes

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16
Q

what is the function of the splenius muscles

A

bilateral - extend neck and head
unilateral - flex and rotate to same side

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17
Q

what muscle group is found deep to splenius muscles

A

parts of erector spinae (semispinalis capitis and longissimus capitis)

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18
Q

what are the attachments of semispinalis capitis

A

C4-T7 transverse processes to occipital bone between nuchal lines

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19
Q

what is the function of semispinalis capitis

A

extends cervical spine (both)
bend neck to same side and rotates to opposite side (one)

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20
Q

what are the attachments of longissimus capitis

A

T1-T3 plus C4-C7 transverse processes to mastoid process

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21
Q

what is the function of longissimus capitis

A

extends head (both)
flexes and rotates head to same side (one)

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22
Q

what is the innervation of the semispinalis and longissimus capitis

A

posterior rami

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23
Q

the splenius muscles, semispinalis capitis and longissimus capitis work together to do what

A

extend the head and neck

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24
Q

what 4 muscles attach to the mastoid process

A

SCM
posterior belly of digastric
splenius capitis
longissimus capitis

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25
Q

what muscles lie deep to semispinalis capitis and longissimus capitis

A

suboccipital muscles

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26
Q

where are the suboccipital muscles found

A

between C2, C1 and occipital bone

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27
Q

what is the function of the suboccipital muscles

A

extend the head

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28
Q

what innervates the suboccipital muscles

A

suboccipital nerve (one each side)

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29
Q

where does the suboccipital nerve originate

A

posterior rami C1

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30
Q

what are the parts of the suboccipital muscles

A
  • rectus capitis posterior minor
  • rectus capitis posterior major
  • obliquus capitis superior
  • obliquus capitis inferior
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31
Q

what are the attachments of rectus capitis posterior major

A

C2 spinous process to inferior nuchal line

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32
Q

what are the attachments of rectus capitis posterior minor

A

C1 posterior tubercle to inferior nuchal line

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33
Q

what is the function of the rectus capitis posterior muscles

A

extend head (both)
rotate to same side (one)

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34
Q

what is the innervation of the rectus capitis posterior muscles

A

suboccipital nerve (posterior rami of C1)

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35
Q

what are the attachments of obliquus capitis superior

A

C1 transverse process to occipital bone above inferior nuchal line

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36
Q

what is the function of obliquus capitis superior

A

extend head (both)
tilt head to same side and rotate to opposite side (one)

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37
Q

what are the attachments of obliquus capitis inferior

A

C2 spinous process to C1 transverse process

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38
Q

what is the function of obliquus capitis inferior

A

extend head (both)
rotate to same side (one)

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39
Q

what is the innervation of the obliquus capitis muscles

A

suboccipital nerve (posterior rami C1)

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40
Q

which of the obliquus muscles is smaller and more lateral

A

obliquus capitis superior

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41
Q

obliquus capitis inferior is larger and passes between what

A

C2 and C1

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42
Q

the obliquus muscles are found ____ to the rectus capitis muscles

A

lateral

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43
Q

which rectus capitis posterior muscle is larger

44
Q

rectus capitis posterior minor is more ___ to major

45
Q

what nerve supplies the suboccipital muscles

A

suboccipital nerve C1

46
Q

why is the suboccipital nerve described as having only motor fibres

A

there is no C1 dermatome for the head and neck

47
Q

what nerve supplies the skin overlying the suboccipital area

A

greater occipital nerve C2

48
Q

what nerve supplies the skin and muscles of the neck

A

dorsal rami C3

49
Q

what artery supplies the sub-occipital region

A

occipital artery

50
Q

the occipital artery is a branch of what

A

external carotid

51
Q

the occipital artery sends a descending branch to anastomose with what

A

deep cervical artery

52
Q

the deep cervical artery comes from where

A

subclavian

53
Q

where are the vertebral arteries found

A

within the suboccipital triangle

54
Q

what are the boundaries of the suboccipital triangle

A

both obliquus capitis muscles and rectus capitis posterior major

55
Q

where do the vertebral arteries come from

A

branch of subclavian in root of neck

56
Q

the vertebral arteries ascend the neck where

A

in foramen transversarium of the cervical vertebra

57
Q

the vertebral arteries cross the superior surface of __ to enter foramen ___

A

C1
foramen magnum

58
Q

describe the course of the vertebral arteries

A

cross the superior surface of C1 to enter foramen magnum

59
Q

the right and left vertebral arteries unite to form what

A

basilar artery

60
Q

how does the basilar artery supply the brain

A

contributes to the posterior part of circle of willis

61
Q

that vein runs with the suboccipital nerve

A

occipital vein

62
Q

the occipital vein joins what vein

A

deep cervical vein

63
Q

the deep cervical vein communicates with what

A

vertebral veins and brachiocephalic vein

64
Q

what vein drains the suboccipital region

A

occipital veins

65
Q

what venous structure is found at the back of the head/neck

A

posterior vertebral venous plexus where many small veins communicate with each other

66
Q

the posterior vertebral venous plexus has communications with what

A

occipital veins, emissary veins of the skull, longitudinal vertebral venous sinus, veins around vertebral artery etc

67
Q

the posterior vertebral venous plexus joins what

A

brachiocephalic vein via the deep cervical vein

68
Q

what movements occur at the base of the head and top of the cervical region

A

nodding ‘yes’
shaking ‘no’

69
Q

where does nodding movement take place

A

between atlas (C1) and the occipital condyles of the skull

70
Q

where does shaking of the head take place

A

rotation between arch of atlas and dens (odontoid) process of axis C2

71
Q

what kind of joint is between the C1 arch and odontoid

A

synovial pivot joint

72
Q

what is the cruciate (also called cruciform) ligament

A

transverse ligament of atlas combined with superior and inferior longitudinal ligament bands that collectively form a cross shape between axis and occipital bone

73
Q

the cruciate ligament is a combination of what that collectively form a cross shape between what

A
  • transverse ligament of atlas
  • superior and inferior longitudinal ligament bands
  • between axis and occipital bone
74
Q

where does the alar ligament pass between

A

dens of the axis to the medial sides of the occipital condyles

75
Q

where does the anterior longitudinal ligament attach

A

occipital bone

76
Q

where does the posterior longitudinal ligament attach

A

becomes the tectorial membrane that also attaches to the occipital bone

77
Q

where does the ALL attach inferiorly

78
Q

what do the fibres of the ALL do

A

deep - bind adjacent vertebrae together
superficial - span multiple segments

79
Q

what does the ALL do

A

limits extension (anterior to axis of movement)

80
Q

what does the PLL limit

81
Q

what does the PLL become superiorly

A

tectorial membrane

82
Q

where does the PLL begin

83
Q

what movements are possible between atlas and base of the skull (C1 and condyles of the occipital bone)

A

flexion
extension
lateral flexion

84
Q

what muscles allow flexion between atlas and base of the skull (C1 and condyles of the occipital bone)

A

longus capitis
rectus capitis anterior
anterior fibres of SCM
suprahyoid and infrahyoid muscles

85
Q

what muscles allow extension between atlas and base of the skull (C1 and condyles of the occipital bone)

A

rectus capitis posterior major and minor
obliquus capitis superior
splenius capitis
longissimus capitis
trapezius

86
Q

what muscles allow lateral flexion between atlas and base of the skull (C1 and condyles of the occipital bone)

A

SCM
obliquus capitis superior
rectus capitis lateralis
longissimus capitis
splenius capitis

87
Q

what muscles cause ipsilateral rotation of the head between atlas and axis

A

obliquus capitis inferior
rectus capitis posterior major and minor
longissimus capitis
splenius capitis

88
Q

what muscles cause contralateral rotation of the head between atlas and axis

A

SCM
semispinalis capitis

89
Q

how many cervical vertebrae

90
Q

what are the atypical cervical vertebrae

A

C1 C2 C7
(C3-C6 typical)

91
Q

C3-C6 (typical) have what kind of spinous process

92
Q

C3-C6 (typical) have what in each transverse process

A

foramen transversarium

93
Q

C1 does not possess

94
Q

how does C1 articulate with the skull

A

occipital condyles

95
Q

how does C1 articulate with C2

A

facet on anterior arch articulates with odontoid process of axis

96
Q

describe the spinous process of C2

97
Q

describe the spinous process of C7

A

large, non-bifid

98
Q

what is another name for C7

A

vertebra prominens

99
Q

what kind of joints are between the vertebral bodies

A

secondary cartilaginous (IVD)

100
Q

what kind of joints are between the articular processes of vertebrae

A

plane synovial facet joints

101
Q

what movements are possible between the cervical vertebrae

A

flexion
extension
lateral bending
rotation
- small movements at each level collectively form a larger movement of the neck as a whole

102
Q

what muscles cause flexion of the cervical region

A

bilateral action of longus coli, scalene, SCM

103
Q

what muscles cause extension of the cervical region

A

deep neck muscles
- semispinalis cervicis and iliocostalis cervicis
- splenius cervicis and levator scapulae
- splenius capitis
- multifidis
- longissimus capitis
- semispinalis capitis
- trapezius

104
Q

what muscles cause lateral bending

A

unilateral action of iliocostalis cervicis, longissimus capitis and cervicis, splenius capitis and cervicis, intertransversarii and scalenes

105
Q

what muscles cause rotation of cervical region

A

unilateral action of rotatores, semispinalis capitis and cervicis, multifidis, splenius cervicis

Regional Anatomy (36 decks)

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