Bassett Collection Large Image - Lane Medical Library, Stanford University Medical Center

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Posterior cervical region and suboccipital muscles dissected from behind

Suboccipital muscles; semispinalis cervicis muscle; nerve supply to semispinalis capitis muscle

The semispinalis capitis muscle has been reflected laterally. Dense fibrous connective tissue and fat have been removed from beneath the muscle.

1 .	Area of insertion of semispinalis capitis muscle (cut across)
2 .	Insertion of splenius capitis muscle (cut across)
3 .	Occipital artery
4 .	Superior oblique capitis muscle
5 .	Muscular branch occipital artery
6 .	Semispinalis capitis muscle (reflected laterally)
7 .	Greater occipital nerve (reflected with above muscle)
8 .	Dorsal branch cervical nerve II (note muscular branches)
9 .	Upper pointer: Dorsal branch cervical nerve III (note muscular branches) Lower pointer: Third occipital nerve (reflected with muscle)
10 .	Muscular branch of dorsal branch cervical nerve IV
11 .	Dorsal cutaneous branch cervical nerve IV
12 .	Tendon of origin of semispinalis capitis muscle (from transverse process of vertebra Th. II)
13 .	Upper pointer: External intercostal muscle Lower pointer: Rib II
14 .	Minor posterior rectus capitis muscle
15 .	Muscular branch of suboccipital nerve
16 .	Major posterior rectus capitis muscle
17 .	Nuchal ligament
18 .	Inferior oblique muscle
19 .	Spinous process axis
20 .	Posterior external vertebral venous plexus
21 .	Interspinales cervices muscles
22 .	Semispinalis cervicis muscle
23 .	Spinous process vertebra C. VI
24 .	Trapezius muscle