Obliquus capitis superior muscle

The obliquus capitis superior muscle (/əˈblkwəs ˈkæpɪtɪs/) is a small muscle in the upper back part of the neck. It is one of the suboccipital muscles. It attaches inferiorly at the transverse process of the atlas (first cervical vertebra); it attaches superiorly at the external surface of the occipital bone. The muscle is innervated by the suboccipital nerve (the posterior ramus of the first cervical spinal nerve).

Obliquus capitis superior muscle
Skull seen from behind (obliquus capitis superior shown in red)
Obliquus capitis superior (red) and its relationship to other suboccipital muscles.
Details
OriginLateral mass of atlas
InsertionLateral half of the inferior nuchal line
NerveSuboccipital nerve
ActionsExtends head and flex head to the ipsilateral side
Identifiers
Latinmusculus obliquus capitis superior
TA98A04.2.02.006
TA22251
FMA32527
Anatomical terms of muscle

It acts at the atlanto-occipital joint to extend the head and bend the head to the same side.

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