Question

As you learned in this lesson, muscles are named for a variety of reasons which may include shape, size, direction, location, etc. For this discussion response, you will first search for an anatomical image of the skeletal muscles of the body. Choose one muscle (pick a more obscure/less common muscle that you may not know) and share with us:

• The muscle name
• The location
• The action/function
• What the name is based upon

Response

Muscle Name

Hi, I'm going to go over the obliquus capitis inferior.

Location

The obliquus capitis inferior is a part of the suboccipital triangle muscle group.

These muscles live just under the occiput, the bone at the base of the back of the skull.

Function

As a deep head extensor muscle, the obliquus capitis inferior works to extend the head relative to the cervical spine.

In addition, because the muscle has an oblique angle, the muscle also assists in head rotation.

One interesting aspect of the suboccipital muscles is that if you palpate the base of the head, just below the occiput, and move your eyes around, you can feel the suboccipital muscles moving.

This is because these muscles actually coordinate head movements with your vestibular system as your eyes move around.

Origin of Name

For its name, the obliquus capitis inferior muscle gets its name primarily from its location in the body.

Obliquus describes the direction of the fibers, as they are slanted they can be described at an oblique angle.

Capitis describes the location relative to other parts of the body, specifically the head.

Capitis stands for 'of the head'.

Inferior describes the location relative to its neighboring muscles.

• The obliquus capitis inferior lies lower to the obliquus capitis superior.

Final

Hi, I'm going to go over the obliquus capitis inferior.

The obliquus capitis inferior is one muscle of three closely related muscles (one set on either side of the spine) known as the suboccipital triangle. These muscles live just under the occiput, the bone at the base of the back of the skull.

The main function of the obliquus capitis inferior is to assist in head extension. However, because the muscle lies at an oblique angle, it also assists in lateral read rotation. More subtly, it also works in tandem with your vestibular system to coordinate head movements as your eyes move around. You can actually feel this, where if you palpate the base of the head, just below the occiput, and move your eyes around, you should be able to feel your suboccipital muscles moving.

For its name, the obliquus capitis inferior muscle gets its name primarily from its location in the body. Obliquus describes the direction of the fibers, as they are slanted they can be described at an oblique angle. Capitis stands for 'of the head', and describes the body part the muscles act upon. Inferior describes the location relative to its neighboring muscles--the obliquus capitis inferior lies lower to the obliquus capitis superior.