Rectus Capitis Posterior Major

Authors

Affiliations

Nate Yomogida, B.S., SPT

Doctor of Physical Therapy

B.S. in Kinesiology

Chloë Kerstein, B.S., SPT

Doctor of Physical Therapy

B.A. in Neuroscience

Figure 1: Muscles of the Posterior and lateral neck¹

Reading list

• Suboccipital Muscles²

Muscle	Origin	Insertion	Innervation	Action
Rectus capitis posterior major				UNIL: I/L head rotation

Origin

C2 (SP)³

Insertion

Occipital bone (inferior nuchal line, middle third)³

Innervation

Suboccipital N. AKA Posterior ramus of C1³

Action

• Bilateral: Extend head
• Unilateral: I/L head rotation

Clinical significance

Control of upright posture is possible through constant interaction between the visual and vestibular system with short range rotators including obliquus capitis posterior inferior, rectus capitis posterior major, splenius capitis, and SCM⁴.

Muscle groups

Part of the suboccipital muscle group

Palpation

Clinical significance

1.

Betts JG, Blaker W. Anatomy and Physiology. 2nd ed. OpenStax; 2022. https://openstax.org/details/books/anatomy-and-physiology-2e/?Book%20details

2.

Donnelly JM, Simons DG, eds. Travell, Simons & Simons’ Myofascial Pain and Dysfunction: The Trigger Point Manual. Third edition. Wolters Kluwer Health; 2019.

3.

Gilroy AM, MacPherson BR, Wikenheiser JC, Voll MM, Wesker K, Schünke M, eds. Atlas of Anatomy. 4th ed. Thieme; 2020.

4.

Dutton M. Dutton’s Orthopaedic Examination, Evaluation, and Intervention. 5th ed. McGraw Hill Education; 2020.