Muscles / Head & neck
Semispinalis capitis
- Head & neck
- Neck
- Intermediate layer
Anatomy
- Origin
- Transverse processes of C7-T6 and articular processes of C4-C6
- Insertion
- Occipital bone between the superior and inferior nuchal lines
- Nerve
- Posterior rami of cervical spinal nerves (greater occipital nerve contributes)
Actions
- Extends the head
- Rotates the head slightly to the opposite side
Notes
- The greater occipital nerve pierces this muscle, a proposed site of irritation in occipital neuralgia.
References (4)
- Standring S, ed. Elsevier. Gray's Anatomy: The Anatomical Basis of Clinical Practice. 42nd ed.
- Dalley AF, Agur AMR. Wolters Kluwer. Moore's Clinically Oriented Anatomy. 9th ed.
- Neumann DA. Elsevier. Kinesiology of the Musculoskeletal System: Foundations for Rehabilitation. 3rd ed.
- Betts JG, Young KA, Wise JA, et al. OpenStax (free, openly licensed textbook). Anatomy and Physiology 2e