Where Is The Rectus capitis posterior minor?
The suboccipital muscle group are 4 short muscles on each side. These four muscles are the rectus capitis posterior minor, rectus capitis posterior major, obliquus capitis superior, and obliquus capitis inferior.
Rectus capitis posterior minor pain
Pain in the Rectus capitis posterior minor can cause tension headaches and cause the upper neck to seize up!
The rectus capitis posterior minor has been noted to have a fascial bridge into our dura mater (the outer layer of the meninges which surrounds our spinal cord and brain). A potential role that rectus capitis posterior minor plays is to try and regulate dural folding, or movement of dura towards the spinal cord – which occurs during head extension. It has been inferred that individuals may experience headaches and pain when the rectus capitis posterior minor muscle acts inappropriately on dura.
See Headaches After Deep Tissue Neck Massage
What Are The Actions of the Rectus capitis posterior minor?
The Rectus capitis posterior minor acts to extend the atlanto-occipital joint.
Aids in slight extension of the head but mainly stabilizes the position of the head!
Where is the Origin and Insertion of the Rectus capitis posterior minor?
Origin:
C2 Spinous process of axis
Insertion:
Lateral half of inferior nuchal line
Where are the Suboccipital Muscles?
The suboccipitals are a group for four small muscles that attach at the C1 or C2 vertebrae. The are located at the top of the neck.
These are four paired muscles
- Rectus capitis posterior major BLUE - located on the spinous process of the axis (C2) to the occipital bone.
- Rectus capitis posterior minor GREEN - located on the center of the posterior arch of the atlas to the occipit.
- Obliquus capitis superior GREEN - located at the transverse process of the atlas to the occiput.
- Obliquus capitis inferior RED - located at the pine of the axis vertebra to the transverse process of the atlas.
