Rectus Capitis Posterior Minor

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

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Muscle	Origin	Insertion	Innervation	Action
Rectus Capitis Posterior Minor	C1 (posterior tubercle)	Occipital bone (inferior nuchal line, inner 1/3)	Suboccipital N.	BIL: Extend head UNIL: I/L head rotation

Origin

C1 (posterior tubercle)³

Insertion

Occipital bone (inferior nuchal line, inner 1/3)³

Innervation

Suboccipital N. AKA Posterior ramus of C1³

Action

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

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.