Rectus anterior capitis muscle
Musculus rectus anterior capitis
- Latin synonym: Musculus rectus capitis anterior; Musculus rectus capitis ventralis
- Synonym: Rectus capitis anterior muscle
- Related terms: Rectus capitis anterior
Definition
Origin: Atlas
Insertion: Occipital bone
Nerve: C1
Action: Flexion of neck atatlanto-occipital joint
Description:
The Rectus capitis anterior (Rectus capitis anticus minor) is a short, flat muscle, situated immediately behind the upper part of the Longus capitis. It arises from the anterior surface of the lateral mass of the atlas, and from the root of its transverse process, and passing obliquely upward and medialward, is inserted into the inferior surface of the basilar part of the occipital bone immediately in front of the foramen magnum.
References
This definition incorporates text from a public domain edition of Gray's Anatomy (20th U.S. edition of Gray's Anatomy of the Human Body, published in 1918 – from http://www.bartleby.com/107/).
