Rectus capitis posterior minor muscle
The rectus capitis posterior minor (or rectus capitis posticus minor) is a muscle in the upper back part of the neck. It is one of the suboccipital muscles. Its inferior attachment is at the posterior arch of atlas; its superior attachment is onto the occipital bone at and below the inferior nuchal line. The muscle is innervated by the suboccipital nerve (the posterior ramus of first cervical spinal nerve). The muscle acts as a weak extensor of the head.
| Rectus capitis posterior minor muscle | |
|---|---|
Human skull seen from back (rectus capitis posterior minor shown in red.) | |
Deep muscles of the back. (rectus capitis posterior minor labeled at top center.) | |
| Details | |
| Origin | Tubercle on the posterior arch of the atlas |
| Insertion | Medial part of the inferior nuchal line of the occipital bone and the surface between it and the foramen magnum |
| Nerve | Branch of the dorsal primary division of the suboccipital nerve |
| Actions | extends the head at the neck, but is now considered to be more of a sensory organ than a muscle |
| Identifiers | |
| Latin | musculus rectus capitis posterior minor |
| TA98 | A04.2.02.005 |
| TA2 | 2250 |
| FMA | 32526 |
| Anatomical terms of muscle | |
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