Suboccipital Triangle and Suboccipital Muscles

Suboccipital Triangle and Suboccipital Muscles

Mention boundaries of suboccipital triangle. Describe the contents of the triangle (or) Suboccipital triangle (or) Suboccipital muscles (or) Contents of suboccipital triangle
Answer:

Suboccipital Triangle:

Suboccipital Triangle Boundaries:

“Understanding The Anatomy Of The Suboccipital Triangle”

1. Superomedially:

• Rectus capitis posterior major
• Rectus capitis posterior minor

2. Superolaterally:

• Superior oblique muscle

“Anatomy Of The Suboccipital Triangle”

3. Inferiorly:

• Inferior oblique muscle

Suboccipital Triangle Roof:

• Medially-semispinalis capitis
• Laterally-longissimus capitis & splenius capitis

“Role Of The Suboccipital Triangle In Neck Pain”

Suboccipital Triangle Floor:

• Posterior arch of atlas
• Posterior atlanto-occipital membrane

Suboccipital Triangle Contents:

1. Third part of vertebral artery:

• It appers at the foramen transverium of the atlas, grooves the atlas & leaves the triangle by passing deep to the lateral edge of the posterior atlanto-occipital membrane
• It gives muscular branches to the muscle of the suboccipital region

“Boundaries Of The Suboccipital Triangle”

2. Dorsal rami of C1 nerve:

• It emerges between posterior arch of the atlas & the vertebral artery
• Structures supplied by it are
  • Four suboccipital muscles
  • Semispinalis capitis
  • Nerve to inferior oblique gives off communicating branch to greater occipital nerve

“Importance Of The Suboccipital Triangle In Anatomy”

3. Suboccipital plexus of veins:

• It lies in & around the suboccipital triangle & drains
  1. Muscular veins
  2. Occipital veins
  3. Internal vertebral venous plexus
  4. Condylar emissary vein

4. Suboccipital muscles:

“Contents Of The Suboccipital Triangle”