io64 A MANUAL OF ANATOMY 



vein. It descends, in company with the deep cervical artery, to 

 the lower part of the neck, where it passes forwards between the 

 transverse process of the seventh cervical vertebra and the neck 

 of the first rib, and ends by joining the vertebral vein just before 

 that vessel terminates in the innominate vein. 



In addition to the muscular branches of the occipital and deep 

 cervical arteries, the deep muscles of the back of the neck receive 

 twigs from the second part of the vertebral artery, which traverses 

 the costo-transverse foramina of the upper six cervical vertebrae. 

 These twigs pass backwards through the intertransverse spaces, 

 and anastomose with branches of the arteria princeps cervicis and 

 deep cervical arteries. 



Suboccipital Region — Muscles — Rectus Capitis Posticus Major 

 — Origin. — One of the tubercles in which the spine of the axis 

 terminates. 



Insertion. — ^The outer part of the inferior curved line of the 

 occipital bone, and the subjacent area. 



Nerve-supply. — ^The posterior primary division of the suboccipital 

 nerve. 



The direction of the fibres is upwards and outwards. 



Action. — (i) To rotate the head towards the same side ; and 

 (2) to extend the head. 



The muscle is triangular, and its insertion is slightly overlapped 

 by the obliquus capitis superior. 



Rectus Capitis Posticus Minor — Origin. — ^The posterior arch of 

 the altas, close to, and encroaching upon, the posterior tubercle. 



Insertion. — ^The inner third of the inferior curved line of the 

 occipital bone, and the subjacent area as low as the foramen 

 magnum. 



Nerve-supply. — ^The posterior primary division of the suboccipital 

 nerve. 



The direction of the fibres is upwards in an expanded manner. 



Action. — ^To extend the head. 



The muscle is fan-shaped, and lies deeper than, and internal to, 

 the rectus capitis posticus major. 



Obliquus Capitis Inferior— Or^gm. — One of the tubercles in which 

 the spine of the axis terminates. 



Insertion. — ^The lower surface of the extremity of the transverse 

 process of the atlas at its back part. 



Nerve-supply. — ^The posterior primary division of the suboccipital 

 nerve. 



The direction of the fibres is outwards and slightly upwards. 



Action. — ^To rotate the atlas, along with the head, towards the 

 same side. 



The muscle is thick and fleshy. At its origin it is interposed 

 between the rectus capitis posticus major superiorly and the highest 

 bundle of the semispinalis colli interiorly. The great occipital nerve 

 winds round its lower border. 



Obliquus Capitis Superior — Origin. — ^The upper surface of the 



