LATERAL CERVICAL MUSCLES 
bo 
~I 
if 
Nerve-supply.—Dorsal branch of the second cervical nerve. 
10. Obliquus capitis anterior (s. cranialis)——This short, thick, quadrilateral 
muscle lies on the side of the atlantooccipital articulation. 
Origin.—The anterior edge and ventral surface of the wing of the atlas. 
Insertion—The paramastoid process and nuchal crest of the occipital bone 
and the mastoid process. 
Action.—Acting together, to extend the head on the atlas; acting singly, to 
flex the head laterally. 
Structure-—The muscle contains a good deal of tendinous tissue. The direction 
of its fibers is forward, upward, and inward. 
Fic. 269——Dererest Layer oF Muscies oF NEcK OF Horsp. 
a, Obliquus capitis anterior; 6, obliquus capitis posterior; c, rectus capitis lateralis; d, rectus capitis ventralis 
minor; ¢, rectus capitis ventralis major; /, longus colli; g, g’, secalenus; hf, longissimus c: 
starum; ?, longissimus dorsi; 
&, spinalis et semispinalis; /, multifidus dorsi; m, multifidus cervicis; n, intertransversales; 0, 0’, rectus capitis dorsalis 
major; p, rectus capitis dorsalis minor; g, tendon of insertion of complexus; 1, lamellar part, 1’, funicular part of liga- 
mentum nuche; 2, nuchal crest; 3, paramastoid process; 4, edge of wing of atlas; 5, transverse, and 6, articular, 
processes of cervical vertebre; 7, nerves of brachial plexus (cut); 8, first rib. (Ellenberger-Baum, Anat... Haustiere.) 
Relations.—Superficially, the complexus, the aponeurosis of the splenius, longus 
capitis, and brachiocephalicus, overlying which are the posterior auricular muscles, 
artery, and nerve, and the parotid gland; deeply, the dorsal straight muscles, 
the occipito-hyoideus, the atlanto-occipital articulation, the posterior meningeal 
artery, and a branch of the occipital nerve. 
Blood-supply.— Occipital artery. 
Nerve-supply—Dorsal branch of the first cervical nerve. 
11. Rectus capitis dorsalis major—This muscle extends from the axis to the 
occipital bone, in contact with the ligamentum nuche. 
Origin.—The edge of the spinous process of the axis. 
