Suboccipital Region Flashcards
What cutaneous nerves are present in the suboccipital space?
- Lesser occipital
- Greater occipital
What is the origin of the suboccipital nerve?
Post. ramus C1
What is the origin of the greater occipital nerve?
Post. ramus C2
What is the origin of the lesser occipital nerve?
Ant. rami C2-3
What is the course of the suboccipital nerve?
Runs between the cranium and C1 vertebra to reach suboccipital triangle
What is the course of the greater occipital nerve?
Emerges inferior to obliquus capitis inferior and ascends to posterior scalp
What is the course of the lesser occipital nerve?
Passes directly to skin
What does the suboccipital nerve innervate?
Muscles of suboccipital triangle
What does the greater occipital nerve innervate?
Skin over neck and occipital bone
What is the function of the lesser occipital nerve?
Skin of superior posterolateral neck and scalp posterior to external ear
Identify these muscles. picture
Splenius capitis (superior)
Splenius cervicis (inferior)
What is the origin and insertion of the splenius capitis?
Origin = ligamentum nuchae + C7-T3 spinous processes
Insertion = occipital bone and mastoid
What is the origin and insertion of the splenius cervicis?
Origin = T3-T6 spinous processes
Insertion = C1-2 transverse processes
What innervates the splenius capitis and cervicis?
Post. rami C1-6
What is the function of the splenius capitis and cervicis?
- Bilaterally extends neck and head
- Unilaterally flexes and rotates to same side
What are these muscles? picture
- Semispinalis capitis (superior)
- Longissimus capitis (inferior)