Suboccipital Muscles

Musculi suboccipitales

Upper Body NeckBackPosterior Chain

Four small, deep paired muscles connecting the skull to the atlas and axis that produce fine head extension and rotation and are densely packed with proprioceptors for head-position sense. Though not directly hypertrophied in the gym, they are central to cervical proprioception, dizziness/headache complaints, and the precise head control that underpins balance and barbell positioning.

Actions

Extension of the head at the atlanto-occipital joint, Ipsilateral rotation of the head at the atlanto-axial joint, Fine proprioceptive control and stabilization of the head

Origin

Spinous process of the axis (C2) and posterior tubercle of the atlas (C1).

Insertion

Occipital bone (inferior nuchal line) and transverse process of the atlas (C1).

Innervation

Suboccipital nerve (posterior ramus of C1).

Blood supply

Vertebral artery and deep descending branch of the occipital artery.

Heads

Rectus capitis posterior major, Rectus capitis posterior minor, Obliquus capitis superior, Obliquus capitis inferior

Wikipedia ↗

neckposteriordeepproprioceptionstability