Rectus capitis posterior minor muscle

Rectus capitis posterior minor muscle
deep neck muscles
origin
Tuberculum dorsale of the atlas
approach
Linea nuchae inferior
function
Extension of the atlanto-occipital joint
Innervation
Suboccipital nerve
Spinal segments
C1

The rectus capitis posterior minor muscle ( Latin for "small rear straight head muscle") is a small skeletal muscle of the head-neck transition. It arises from the posterior arch of the atlas and starts at the lower neck line ( Linea nuchae inferior ) of the occiput . It lies in the deep neck triangle medial to the rectus capitis posterior major muscle and is covered by the semispinalis capitis muscle above . He stretches the first head joint .