Short neck and head joint muscles

The short neck musculature (lat. Mm. suboccipitales) belongs to the autochronic back musculature and lies to the right and left of the vertebral bodies of the spinal column.

Exercises

Head/Neck

Neck muscles

Neighbouring structures

Cervical spine

Skull

Body regions

Muscles neck

Head/Neck

Organ system

Muscles

Active movement apparatus

Movement apparatus

---

Anatomy

The short neck muscles (Mm. suboccipitales) belong to the autochthonous back muscles because they are innervated by the R. dorsalis of the first spinal nerve (C1). It consists of the following muscles: Mm. recti capitis posterior, major and minor as well as Mm. obliquii capitis superior and inferior.

	1) M. rectus capitis posterior minor	2) M. rectus capitis posterior major
origin	spinous process rudiment (tuberculum posterius) of the atlas (1st cervical vertebra)	spinous process (proc. spinosus) of the axis (2nd cervical vertebra)
insertion	Linea nuchea inferior of the Os occipitale	Linea nuchea inferior of the Os occipitale
function	In case of one-sided contraction a slight inclination and rotation of the head to the ipsilateral side occurs, in case of bilateral activation a dorsal extension.	In the case of one-sided contraction, the head is tilted and rotated towards the ipsilateral side, and in the case of bilateral contraction, a dorsal extension occurs.

	3) M. obliquus capitis posterior superior	4) M. obliquus capitis posterior inferior
origin	transverse process of the atlas	spinous process of the axis
insertion	lateral third of the Linea nuchea inferior on the Os occipitale	transverse process of the atlas
function	In the case of one-sided contraction, the head is inclined towards the ipsilateral side and rotated towards the contralateral side; in the case of bilateral activation, a dorsal extension occurs.	In the case of one-sided contraction, the head rotates to the ipsilateral side; in the case of bilateral activation, a dorsal extension occurs.

Function

Through the short neck muscles, the vertebral bodies are held, moved and stabilized. The following movements can be performed by this muscle group:

• tilting the head forward
• placing the head in the neck
• lateral movements of the head

For the rotational movement and reclination of the head, the short neck muscles work together in a complex manner. Thereby the M. rectus capitis posterior major, the M. obliquus capitis superior and the M. obliquus capitis inferior form the anatomical triangle (Trigonum a. vertebralis). The vertebral artery runs in the region of this anatomical triangle.

Free exploration

Look at the structure of the upper cervical muscles in 3D and explore it freely. Afterwards you can test your acquired knowledge by the exercises.

---

Further links

WEITERE ARTIKEL

Wirbelsäule

RIPPEN

---