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The suboccipital muscles are a group of muscles defined by their location to the occiput. Suboccipital muscles are located below the occipital bone. These are four paired muscles on the underside of the occipital bone; the two straight muscles (rectus) and the two oblique muscles (obliquus).

The muscles are named

• Rectus capitis posterior major goes from the spinous process of the axis (C2) to the occipital bone.
• Rectus capitis posterior minor goes from the middle of the posterior arch of the atlas to the occiput.
• Obliquus capitis superior goes from the transverse process of the atlas to the occiput.
• Obliquus capitis inferior goes from the spine of the axis vertebra to the transverse process of the atlas.

They are innervated by the suboccipital nerve.

Additional images

• 
  Position of suboccipital muscles. Animation.
• 
  Close up. Seen from below.
• 
  Still image.

See also

• Suboccipital triangle