Obliquus superior capitis muscle
Musculus obliquus superior capitis
Obliquus capitis superior is a small suboccipital muscle running up and back from the atlas to the occipital bone.
At a glance
- English
- Obliquus superior capitis muscle
- Latin (TA2)
- Musculus obliquus superior capitis
- System
- Muscle
- Region
- Neck
- Side
- Paired, left and right
About the obliquus superior capitis muscle
Obliquus capitis superior is one of the four suboccipital muscles, the small, deep group that lies just below the back of the skull and controls fine movement of the head on the top two vertebrae. It is narrow below and widens above. It lies deep to semispinalis capitis and splenius capitis and forms the upper outer side of the suboccipital triangle.
Its fibres start on the upper surface of the transverse process of the atlas, close to the lateral mass, where obliquus capitis inferior ends. They run upwards, backwards and slightly inwards and reach the occiput between the superior and inferior nuchal lines, on the lateral part of the inferior line, overlapping the outer end of rectus capitis posterior major.
Its action is on the atlanto-occipital joint. Working on both sides, it extends the head, tipping the chin up. On one side alone it bends the head towards the same shoulder. Its pull is small, and like the other suboccipitals it is rich in muscle spindles, so it is believed to play a large part in sensing head position and keeping the head balanced, working closely with the eyes and the inner ear.
Its nerve is the suboccipital nerve, the C1 dorsal ramus, which enters the suboccipital triangle between the atlas and the vertebral artery. Its blood comes from the vertebral and occipital arteries. Tension and tenderness in the suboccipital muscles, including this one, are common in people with headaches that start in the neck, and the region is often treated by massage and manual therapy.
Attachments, action and supply
- Origin
- Upper surface of the transverse process of the atlas, near the lateral mass.
- Insertion
- Occipital bone between the nuchal lines, on the lateral part of the inferior nuchal line.
- Action
- Extends the head at the atlanto-occipital joint and bends it to the same side.
- Nerve supply
- Suboccipital nerve (dorsal ramus of C1).
- Blood supply
- Vertebral and occipital arteries.
Anthromica
See the obliquus superior capitis muscle where it really sits, with every layer of the body around it.
- Every layer, one body. Peel from muscle to bone, nerve, vessel and organ, and turn it any way.
- English and Latin. Every structure named the way your exam names it.
- Quiz until it sticks. Short drills on the structures you keep missing.
Free to start. No card.
