rectus capitis posterior major (muscle)

rec·tus ca·pi·tis pos·te·ri·or ma·jor (mus·cle)

[TA] muscle of suboccipital triangle; origin, spinous process of axis; insertion, middle of inferior nuchal line of occipital bone; action, rotates and draws head backward; nerve supply, dorsal branch of first cervical (suboccipital).
See also: suboccipital muscles. Synonym(s): musculus rectus capitis posterior major [TA], greater posterior rectus muscle of head, musculus rectus capitis posticus major