Occipitalis muscle
Last revised by Reabal Najjar
on 29 Nov 2022
Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data
Citation:
Condon J, Najjar R, Bell D, et al. Occipitalis muscle. Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 05 Dec 2024) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-49796
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rID:
49796
Article created:
4 Dec 2016,
James Condon
Disclosures:
At the time the article was created James Condon had no recorded disclosures.
View James Condon's current disclosures
Last revised:
29 Nov 2022,
Reabal Najjar
Disclosures:
At the time the article was last revised Reabal Najjar had no financial relationships to ineligible companies to disclose.
View Reabal Najjar's current disclosures
Revisions:
6 times, by
5 contributors -
see full revision history and disclosures
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Synonyms:
- Occipitalis muscles
The occipitalis muscle is one of the paired skeletal muscles of the face. The occipitalis is connected to the frontalis muscle by the epicranial aponeurosis (also known as the galea aponeurotica) to form the occipitofrontalis muscle 1.
On this page:
Summary
origin: superior nuchal line
insertion: epicranial aponeurosis
blood supply: branches of posterior auricular and occipital arteries
innervation: posterior auricular nerve of facial nerve (CN VII)
action: moves scalp posteriorly
Gross anatomy
Origin
The occipitalis muscle originates from the superior nuchal line of the occipital bone 2.
Insertion
The occipitalis muscle inserts into the epicranial aponeurosis.
Arterial supply
The occipitalis receives blood supply primarily from the branches of the posterior auricular and occipital arteries.
Innervation
The occipitalis is innervated by the posterior auricular nerve, a branch of the facial nerve (CN VII).
Action
Upon contraction, the occipitalis muscle moves the scalp posteriorly.
References
- 1. Susan Standring. Gray's Anatomy. (2015) ISBN: 9780702068515 - Google Books
- 2. Keith L. Moore, Arthur F. Dalley, A. M. R. Agur. Clinically Oriented Anatomy. (2013) ISBN: 9781451119459 - Google Books
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