This document describes the muscles and structures in the back of the neck. It discusses the four layers in the back of the neck - skin, superficial fascia, deep fascia, and muscles. The muscles are arranged in superficial and deep groups. The superficial group includes the trapezius and levator scapulae. The deep group includes the splenius capitis, splenius cervices, longissimus capitis, semispinalis capitis, and suboccipital muscles. The suboccipital muscles specifically are the rectus capitis posterior minor, rectus capitis posterior major, obliquus capitis inferior, and obliquus capitis superior. These form the boundaries of

1. MUSCLES OF BACK &
SUBOCCIPITAL
TRIANGLE
DR VANI PC

2.  Above-External occipital protuberance
& superior nuchal line
 below – Spine of c7 vertebrae
Back of Neck-Extent

3. The back of neck consists of four layers
 Skin
 Superficial fascia
 Deep fascia
 Muscles
Back of Neck-Layers

4. Back of neck- skin

5. Back of neck- superficial fascia
The cutaneous nerves
 Greater occipital
 Third occipital
The cutaneous vessels
 Occipital artery
 Twigs of vertebral artery

6. Muscles are arranged
as
 Superficial group
 Deep Group
Back of neck- Muscles

7. SUPERFICIAL G R O U P
 First layer - Trapezius
 Second layer – Levator scapulae

8. D E E P G R O U P
 Superficial : Splenius Capitis, Splenius
Cervices
 Intermediate : Longissimus Capitis
 Deep : Semispinalis Capitis
 Deepest layer : Suboccipital muscles

9. SUBOCCIPITAL M U S C L E S
 Rectus capitis posterior minor
 Rectus capitis posterior major
 Obliquus capitis inferior
 Obliquus capitis superior

11. SUBOCCIPITAL
TRIANGLE

12. Approach to Suboccipital triangle

13.  Superomedially : Rectus capitis posterior
major & minor
 Superolaterally : Obliquus capitis
superior
 Inferiorly : Obliquus capitis inferior
Boundaries

14.  Roof:
Semispinalis capitis
 Floor:
Posterior atlanto-occipital
membrane
Posterior arch of atlas
Boundaries

15.  Suboccipital nerve:
(Dorsal ramus of C1)
 III part of Vertebral artery
 Sub occipital venous plexus
Contents

16. Cisternal puncture
It is a procedure to approach cisterna
magna in the posterior cranial fossa
through the foramen magnum
To obtain CSF
Via the Suboccipital triangle
By piercing the posterior atlanto-
occipital membrane
Applied aspects