Obliquus Capitis Inferior Muscle

Author: Scott A. Sheffield MS

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The obliquus capitis inferior muscle is a small muscle that lies on the side of the neck and attaches to the base of the skull.

image descriptionObliquus Capitis Inferior Muscle

Posterior view of the occipital region of the skull, cervical and thoracic regions of the spinal column, upper arm, scapulae and the most superficial layer of the attached muscles. The labelled muscles are Trapezius, Deltoid and Latissimus Dorsi.
Posterior view of the occipital region of the skull, cervical and thoracic regions of the spinal column, upper arm, scapulae and a deeper layer of the attached muscles. The labelled muscles are Sternocleidomastoid, Semispinalis Capitis, Splenius Capitis, Splenius Cervicis, Longissimus Group of muscles, Spinalis Group and Iliocostalis Group.
Posterior view of the occipital region of the skull, cervical and thoracic regions of the spinal column, upper arm, scapulae and a deeper layer of the attached muscles. The labelled muscles are Suboccipital Muscles, Qbliquus Capitis Inferior (highlighted in green) and Multifidus.
Posterior view of the occipital region of the skull, cervical and thoracic regions of the spinal column, upper arm and scapulae, with the only attached muscle Obliquus Capitis Inferior.
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image descriptionAttachments of the Obliquus Capitis Inferior Muscle

Origin
a. Spinous process of the axis vertebra (C2).

Insertion
a. Transverse process (lateral mass) of atlas vertebra (C1).

Posterior view of the occipital region of the skull, cervical and thoracic regions of the spinal column, upper arm, scapulae and the most superficial layer of the attached muscles. The labelled muscles are Trapezius, Deltoid and Latissimus Dorsi.
Posterior view of the occipital region of the skull, cervical and thoracic regions of the spinal column, upper arm and scapulae, with the only attached muscle Obliquus Capitis Inferior.
Posterior view of the occipital region of the skull, cervical and thoracic regions of the spinal column, upper arm and scapulae showing the origin of Obliquus Capitis Inferior at the spinous process of the axis vertebra (C2) marked by a red circle and insertion at the transverse process (lateral mass) of atlas vertebra (C1) marked by a blue circle.
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Actions of the Obliquus Capitis Inferior Muscle:

a.  image descriptionRotates Head (= atlas; atlanto-axial joint) to the same side (= ipsilateral or contracted side)

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Nerve to the Obliquus Capitis Inferior Muscle:

a. Suboccipital nerve or posterior (dorsal) primary ramus of C1.

An Overview of the Muscles of the Neck

A quiz image of the posterior view of the occipital region of the skull, cervical and thoracic regions of the spinal column, upper arm, scapulae and the most superficial muscle layer. Muscles are labelled 1-3 and the answers are concealed.
A quiz image of the posterior view of the occipital region of the skull, cervical and thoracic regions of the spinal column, upper arm, scapulae and the most superficial muscle layer. The muscles of the back and neck are labelled 1-3. The answers at the bottom are as follows 1. Trapezius 2. Deltoid 3. Latissimus Dorsi.
A quiz image of the posterior view of the occipital region of the skull, cervical and thoracic regions of the spinal column, upper arm, scapulae and the deeper muscle layer. The muscles of the back and neck are labelled 1-4. The answers at the bottom are as follows 1. Supraspinatus 2. Infraspinatus 3. Teres Minor 4. Teres Major.
A quiz image of the posterior view of the occipital region of the skull, cervical and thoracic regions of the spinal column, upper arm, scapulae and the deeper muscle layer. The muscles of the back and neck are labelled 1-4. The answers at the bottom are as follows 1. Levator Scapula 2. Rhomboids Minor 3. Rhomboids Major 4. Serratus Anterior.
A quiz image of the posterior view of the occipital region of the skull, cervical and thoracic regions of the spinal column, upper arm, scapulae and the deeper muscle layer. The only muscle labelled 1 is Serratus Posterior Superior.
A quiz image of the posterior view of the occipital region of the skull, cervical and thoracic regions of the spinal column, upper arm, scapulae and the deeper muscle layer. The muscles of the back and neck are labelled 1-7. The answers at the bottom are as follows 1. Sternocleidomastoid 2. Semispinalis Capitis 3. Splenius Capitis 4. Splenius Cervicis 5. Longissimus Group 6. Spinalis Group 7. Iliocostalis Group.
A quiz image of the posterior view of the occipital region of the skull, cervical and thoracic regions of the spinal column, upper arm, scapulae and the deeper muscle layer. The muscles of the back and neck are labelled 1-6. The answers at the bottom are as follows 1. Semispinalis Capitis 2. Longissimus Group 3. Spinalis Group 4. Longissimus Group 5. Spinalis Group 6. Iliocostalis Group.
A quiz image of the posterior view of the occipital region of the skull, cervical and thoracic regions of the spinal column, upper arm, scapulae and the deeper muscle layer. The muscles of the back and neck are labelled 1-5. The answers at the bottom are as follows 1. Semispinalis Capitis 2. Longissimus Group 3. Spinalis Group 4. Longissimus Group 5. Spinalis Group.
A quiz image of the posterior view of the occipital region of the skull, cervical and thoracic regions of the spinal column, upper arm, scapulae and the deeper muscle layer. The muscles of the back and neck are labelled 1-3. The answers at the bottom are as follows 1. Semispinalis Capitis 2. Spinalis Group 3. Spinalis Group.
A quiz image of the posterior view of the occipital region of the skull, cervical and thoracic regions of the spinal column, upper arm, scapulae and the deeper muscle layer. The muscles of the back and neck are labelled 1-2. The answers at the bottom are as follows 1. Semispinalis Capitis 2. Semispinalis Thoracis.
A quiz image of the posterior view of the occipital region of the skull, cervical and thoracic regions of the spinal column, upper arm, scapulae and the deeper muscle layer. The muscles of the back and neck are labelled 1-3. The answers at the bottom are as follows 1. Suboccipital Muscles 2. Obiquus Capitis Inferior 3. Multifidus.
A quiz image of the posterior view of the occipital region of the skull, cervical and thoracic regions of the spinal column, upper arm, scapulae and the deeper muscle layer. The only muscle labelled 1. Is Obliquus Capitis Inferior.
Posterior view of the occipital region of the skull, cervical and thoracic regions of the spinal column, upper arm and scapulae showing the origin of Obliquus Capitis Inferior at the spinous process of the axis vertebra (C2) marked by a red circle and insertion at the transverse process (lateral mass) of atlas vertebra (C1) marked by a blue circle.
Test yourself while observing the Obliquus Capitis Inferior muscle
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