Suboccipital Region

Question 1

Describe the origin, insertion, action, and innervation of the rectus capitis posterior major.

Answer 1

O: spinous process of C2

I: occiput

N: suboccipital nerve

A: unilateral - head rotation to same side
bilateral - head extension

Question 2

Describe the origin, insertion, innervation, and action of the rectus capitis posterior minor.

Answer 2

O: posterior arch of C1

I: occipital bone

N: suboccipital nerve

A: unilateral - head rotation to same side
bilateral - head extension

Question 3

Describe the origin, insertion, innervation, and action for obliquus capitis inferior.

Answer 3

O: spinous process of C2

I: transverse process of C1

N: suboccipital nerve

A: same side head rotation

Question 4

Describe the origin, insertion, innervation, and action for obliquus capitis superior.

Answer 4

O: transverse process of C1

I: posterior aspect of occipital bone

N: suboccipital nerve

A: bilateral head extension, unilateral lateral head flexion

Question 5

Describe the boundaries and contents of the suboccipital triangle.

Answer 5

Inferior border is the obliquus capitis inferior

Medial border is the rectus capitis posterior major

Lateral border is the obliquus capitis superior

Contains the vertebral artery and the suboccipital nerve

Question 6

Describe the joints of the suboccipital region.

Answer 6

Atlanto-occipital joint (OA): articulation between occipital condyles and C1; a synovial joint that permits flexion and extension of the head

Atlanto-axial joint (AA): articulation of the dens and facets of C1 with C2; synovial joint that provides rotational movement of the head

Question 7

Describe the ligaments of the suboccipital region.

Answer 7

Cruciform ligament: made up of apical ligament (superior longitudinal band), transverse cervical ligament, and inferior longitudinal band); keeps dens from sliding onto spinal cord

Alar ligament: runs anteriorly to the cruciform ligament

Tectorial membrane: becomes the PLL below C2/C3

Anterior atlanto-occipital membrane becomes the anterior atlanto-axial membrane, which becomes the ALL below C2/C3

Posterior atlanto-occipital membrane becomes posterior atlanto-axial membrane, which becomes the ligamentum flavum

Question 8

Describe the blood supply to the suboccipital region.

Answer 8

Preforaminal vertebral artery (V1) branches off of subclavian artery

V2 travels through transverse foramen of C6-C1

V3 makes a 90 degree turn posteriorly after coming through transverse foramina of C1

V4 makes a 90 degree turn superomedially to merge with the vertebral artery of the opposite side into the basilar artery which supplies the cerebellum and brain stem