suboccipital muscles

sub·oc·cip·i·tal mus·cles

[TA]

a group of muscles located immediately below the occipital bone; they are the rectus capitis anterior muscle, rectus capitis posterior major and minor muscles, rectus capitis lateralis muscle, obliquus capitis superior and inferior muscles; innervated by the suboccipital nerve; although its actions have been described, it is held by many authorities that these muscles act primarily as organs of proprioception.

Synonym(s): musculi suboccipitales [TA]

sub·oc·cip·i·tal mus·cles

(sŭb'ok-sip'i-tăl mŭs'ĕlz) [TA]

Group of muscles located immediately below the occipital bone; include rectus capitis anterior muscle, rectus capitis posterior major and minor muscles, rectus capitis lateralis muscle, obliquus capitis superior and inferior muscles; innervated by suboccipital nerve.
Synonym(s): musculi suboccipitales.