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

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Dissection of head and neck from a posterior approach

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 .	Obliquus capitis superior muscle
5 .	Muscular branch of occipital artery
6 .	Semispinalis capitis muscle (reflected laterally)
7 .	Greater occipital nerve (reflected with above muscle)
8 .	Posterior branch cervical nerve II (note muscular branches)
9 .	Upper pointer: Posterior branch cervical nerve III (note muscular branches) Lower pointer: Third occipital nerve (reflected with muscle)
10 .	Posterior muscular branch of cervical nerve IV
11 .	Posterior cutaneous branch of cervical nerve IV
12 .	Tendon of origin of semispinalis capitis muscle (from transverse process thoracic vertebra II)
13 .	Upper pointer: External intercostal muscle Lower pointer: Rib II
14 .	Minor posterior rectus capitis muscle
15 .	Posterior muscular branch of cervical nerve I
16 .	Major posterior rectus capitis muscle
17 .	Nuchal ligament
18 .	Obliquus capitis inferior muscle
19 .	Spinous process of axis
20 .	Posterior vertebral venous plexus
21 .	Interspinalis muscles
22 .	Semispinalis cervicis muscle
23 .	Spinous process cervical vertebra VI
24 .	Trapezius muscle