Rectus Capitis Anterior
Last updated:
07/11/2025Della Barnes, an MS Anatomy graduate, blends medical research with accessible writing, simplifying complex anatomy for a better understanding and appreciation of human anatomy.
What is the Rectus Capitis Anterior
The rectus capitis anterior is a small, paired cervical muscle located in front of the neck, at the base of the skull. It belongs to the group of prevertebral muscles, with the longus capitis, longus colli, and rectus capitis lateralis. It assists in flexing the neck to bend the head.
Anatomy
Location and Attachments
| Origin | The lateral mass and transverse processes of the atlas bone |
| Insertion | Basilar part of the occipital bone |
Origin
The muscle originates as a tiny tendinous slip from the anterior side of the atlas, or the first cervical vertebra, specifically from its lateral mass and root of the transverse process.
Insertion
The muscle fibers then course medially upward toward the base of the skull, while forming a slender belly. It soon narrows back into a tendon and inserts into the lower surface of the basilar part of the occipital bone.
Relations With Surrounding Muscles and Structures
Surrounded by the prevertebral fascia of the deep cervical fascia, it is one of the deeper muscles of the neck, located deep to, or behind, the upper fibers of the longus capitis muscle.
The rectus capitis anterior is situated at the back of the retropharyngeal space, an opening between the throat and the top of the spine that allows the throat to move when you swallow or talk.
Its neurovascular relations include the subclavian artery, cervical plexus, and brachial plexus., which all course lateral to the muscle.
Function
| Action | Flexing the neck at the atlanto-occipital joint and stabilizing the same joint |
It is one of the deep neck flexors that works with other neck flexors like the longus capitis and longus colli to flex the atlanto-occipital joint, meaning it bends the head forward at the neck. It also helps stabilize this joint, keeping the head steady on the neck.
Antagonists
Being a small muscle, the rectus capitis anterior does not have a direct antagonist. However, as part of the deep neck flexor group, its flexion is opposed by the suboccipital muscles, the obliquus capitis superior, obliquus capitis inferior, and the rectus capitis posterior major and minor, which act as antagonists by extending the neck.
Innervation
| Nerve | C1-C2 spinal nerves |
The muscle receives innervation from the ventral rami of the first and second cervical spinal nerves (C1-C2).
Blood Supply
| Artery | Vertebral and ascending pharyngeal arteries |
Blood supply to the muscle comes from branches of the vertebral artery, with additional supply from the ascending pharyngeal artery, a branch of the external carotid artery.
References
- Rectus Capitis Anterior Muscle: Radiopaedia.org
- Rectus Capitis Anterior Muscle: Kenhub.com
- Rectus Anterior Capitis Muscle: Elsevier.com
- Rectus Capitis Anterior Muscle (Anatomy): PrimaryCareNotebook.com
- Anatomy, Head and Neck, Prevertebral Muscles: NCBI.NLM.NIH.gov
Della Barnes, an MS Anatomy graduate, blends medical research with accessible writing, simplifying complex anatomy for a better understanding and appreciation of human anatomy.
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