Suboccipital Triangle

Question 1

Occipital Bone

Answer 1

Question 2

Occipital Bone: Actions

Answer 2

Provides a bone surface for insertion of the suboccipital muscles, articulates with the first cervical vertebra which gives attachment to 3 of the suboccipital muscles, contains the foramen magnum through which pass both vetebral arteries

Question 3

Atlas C1

Answer 3

Superior Articular processes/lateral masses articulate with the occipital condyles

Vertebral foramen lies immediately below the foramen magnum

has no body

has a posterior tubercle instead of a spinous process

Question 4

Axis

Answer 4

Embrylogical body of the first cervical vertebra fused to it and is called the odontoid process/ dens

Question 5

Inferior Oblique Muscle

Answer 5

Located on the bottom

Question 6

Inferior Oblique: Origin and Insertion

Answer 6

Origin: Spine of C2

Insertion: transverse process of C1

Question 7

Superior Oblique Muscle

Answer 7

Located on top of eye

Question 8

Superior Oblique: origin and insertion

Answer 8

Origin: Transverse Process of C1

Inserts: occipital Bone

Question 9

Rectus Capitis Posterior Minor Muscle

Answer 9

Question 10

Rectus Capitis Posterior Minor Muscle: Origin and Insertion

Answer 10

Origin: Posterior Tubercle of C1

Inserts: occipital Bone

Question 11

Rectus Capitis Posterior Major Muscle

Answer 11

Question 12

Rectus capitis Posterior Major Muscle: Origin and Insertion

Answer 12

Origin: Spinous Process of C2

Insertion: Occipital Bone

Question 13

Suboccipital Muscles: Innervation

Answer 13

Suboccipital nerve, dorsal/posterior ramus of C1

Question 14

Suboccipital Muscles: Action

Answer 14

All extend the head and rotate it and the atlas toward the same side

Question 15

Vertebral Arteries: Passageway

Answer 15

Pass cranially through teh transverse foramen of C6-C1

Pass posteriorly and medially to the superior articular process of C1 lying in a groove on the lamina

turns anteriorly and superiorly to pass through the foramen magnum into the skull

Question 16

Dorsal/Posterior Primary Ramus of C1/Suboccipital nerve

Answer 16

Emerges within the triangle between the vertebral artery and the lamina of the C1 vertebra, and then distributes to innervate all the suboccipital muscles

Question 17

Ventral/anterior primary ramus

Answer 17

continues laterally to pass immediately posterior to the vertebral artery as it leaves the transverse foramen

Question 18

Suboccipital Coverings

Answer 18

Suboc triangle is covered posteriorly and inferiorly by the semispinalis capitis muscles, splenius capitis and trapezius muscles