Rectus capitis posterior major muscle

The rectus capitis posterior major (or rectus capitis posticus major^{[citation needed]}) is a muscle in the upper back part of the neck. It is one of the suboccipital muscles. Its inferior attachment is at the spinous process of the axis (Second cervical vertebra); its superior attachment is onto the outer surface of the occipital bone on and around the side part of the inferior nuchal line. The muscle is innervated by the suboccipital nerve (the posterior ramus of cervical spinal nerve C1). The muscle acts to extend the head and rotate the head to its side.

Rectus capitis posterior major muscle
Deep muscles of the back. (Rect. post. major visible at upper left.)
Details
Origin	Spinous process of the axis (C2)
Insertion	Inferior nuchal line of the occipital bone
Artery	Occipital artery
Nerve	Dorsal ramus of C1 (suboccipital nerve), sub-occipital nerve
Actions	Ipsilateral rotation of head and extension
Identifiers
Latin	musculus rectus capitis posterior major
TA98	A04.2.02.004
TA2	2249
FMA	32525
Anatomical terms of muscle [edit on Wikidata]

Anatomy

The rectus capitis posterior major muscle is one of the suboccipital muscles. It forms the superomedial boundary of the suboccipital triangle.^[1]

The muscle extends obliquely^[2] superiolaterally from its inferior attachment to its superior attachment.^[1][2] It becomes broader superiorly.^[1]

Attachments

Its inferior attachment is (via a pointed tendon^[1]) at (the external aspect of) the (bifid)^[2] spinous process of the axis (cervical vertebra C2).^[1]

Its superior attachment is at (the lateral portion of^[1][2]) the inferior nuchal line^[1] and the surface of the occipital bone just inferior to this line.^[1][2]

Innervation

The muscle receives motor innervation from the suboccipital nerve (the posterior ramus of cervical spinal nerve C1).^[2][1]

Relations

Superiorly, as the two muscles diverge laterally, they create between them a triangular space in which parts of the two recti capitis posteriores minores muscles are exposed.^[1]

Actions/movements

The muscle extends the head and (acting together with the obliquus capitis inferior muscle^[1]) ipsilaterally rotates the head.^[1][2]

Function

Its main actions are to extend and rotate the atlanto-occipital joint.

Research

A soft tissue connection bridging from the rectus capitis posterior major to the cervical dura mater was described in 2011. Various clinical manifestations may be linked to this anatomical relationship.^[3] It has also been postulated that this connection serves as a monitor of dural tension along with the rectus capitis posterior minor and the obliquus capitis inferior.^{[citation needed]}

See also

• Atlanto-occipital joint
• Rectus capitis lateralis
• Rectus capitis posterior minor muscle
• Rectus capitis anterior muscle

Additional images

• 
  Position of rectus capitis posterior major muscle (shown in red).
• 
  Rectus capitis posterior major muscle.
• 
  Occipital bone. Outer surface.
• 
  Rectus capitis posterior major's relationship to other suboccipital muscles.

References

This article incorporates text in the public domain from page 401 of the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)

1. Standring, Susan (2020). Gray's Anatomy: The Anatomical Basis of Clinical Practice (42th ed.). New York. pp. 848–849. ISBN 978-0-7020-7707-4. OCLC 1201341621.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
2. Sinnatamby, Chummy S. (2011). Last's Anatomy (12th ed.). p. 430. ISBN 978-0-7295-3752-0.
3. Frank Scali; Eric S. Marsili; Matt E. Pontell (2011). "Anatomical Connection Between the Rectus Capitis Posterior Major and the Dura Mater". Spine. 36 (25): E1612–4. doi:10.1097/BRS.0b013e31821129df. PMID 21278628. S2CID 31560001.

External links

• PTCentral
• Anatomy photo:01:10-0102 at the SUNY Downstate Medical Center
• Anatomy figure: 01:07-04 at Human Anatomy Online, SUNY Downstate Medical Center