Anatomic Relation between the Rectus Capitis Posterior Minor Muscle and the Dura Mater

Anatomical Parameters of the Rectus Capitis Posterior Minor Muscle Based on a New Magnetic Resonance Scan Method

“…In the past 20 years, the findings confirm that the RCPmi is connected to the cervical spinal dura mater via the MDB through the posterior antlanto-occipital interspace (Hack et al;Scali et al, 2013;Pontell et al;Su et al;Zheng et al). It is hypothesized to perform some physiological functions, such as protecting the spinal cord from dural enfolding (Hack et al;Pontell et al;Chang et al;Fernández-de-Las-Peñas et al, 2008;McPartland et al), placing tension to the dura under (Rutten et al, 1997;Chang et al;Fernández-de-Las-Peñas et al, 2008;McPartland et al), maintaining the integrity of the subarachnoid space (Fernández-de-Las-Peñas et al, 2008;McPartland et al), and working as a pump via the MDBs to provide power for CSF circulation (Su et al; Zheng et al; Yuan et al).…”

“…It is hypothesized to perform some physiological functions, such as protecting the spinal cord from dural enfolding (Hack et al;Pontell et al;Chang et al;Fernández-de-Las-Peñas et al, 2008;McPartland et al), placing tension to the dura under (Rutten et al, 1997;Chang et al;Fernández-de-Las-Peñas et al, 2008;McPartland et al), maintaining the integrity of the subarachnoid space (Fernández-de-Las-Peñas et al, 2008;McPartland et al), and working as a pump via the MDBs to provide power for CSF circulation (Su et al; Zheng et al; Yuan et al). Furthermore, Some clinical studies found that the pathology of RCPmi for instance atrophy or swelling, might be closely related to chronic cervical headaches (McPartland et al;Alix & Bates;Fernández-de-Las-Peñas et al, 2007;Fernández-de-Las-Peñas et al, 2008).…”

“…Many anatomical studies have focused on the connections of RCPmi in the past (Hack et al;Rutten et al;Yuan et al;Alix & Bates;Elliott et al, 2005;Zumpano et al, 2006;Hallgren, 2014;Hallgren et al, 2014;Scali et al, 2015), while few studies were related to the morphological parameters of the RCPmi. In this study, a quantitative MRI measurement of the RCPmi was developed and a reference value of imaging anatomical parameters of the RCPmi was set up.…”

“…The suboccipital region is a complex anatomical structure with the rectus captis posterior major (RCPma), the rectus capitis posterior minor (RCPmi), and the obliquus capitis inferior (OCI) as part of an important anatomical structure in this region for connecting with the dura mater via the myodural bridge (MDB) (Hack et al, 1995;Pontell et al, 2013;Scali et al, 2013;Su et al, 2013;Zheng et al, 2014). In the past 20 years, it was proposed that through the MDBs the RCPmi might perform some physiological functions, like protecting the spinal cord from dural enfolding (Chang et al, 1992;Hack et al;McPartland et al, 1997;Fernández-de-Las-Peñas et al, 2008;Pontell et al), placing tension to the dura under (Chang et al;McPartland et al;Rutten et al, 1997;Fernández-de-Las-Peñas et al, 2008;), maintaining the integrity of the subarachnoid space (McPartland et al;Fernández-de-Las-Peñas et al, 2008), and working as a pump via the MDBs to provide power for CSF circulation (Su et al;Zheng et al;Yuan et al, 2016).…”

Occipital Bone Fossa Associated with the Position of Rectus Capitis Posterior Minor Muscle

“…Based on their anatomical location, and their functional role, is considered to be a head extender muscle (Gray; Testut & Latarjet; Rouvière & Delmas) and an active element that could influence the magnitude of flexion of the occipitoatlantal joint that occurs during voluntary retraction of the head and may contribute to stabilization of the occipitoatlantal joint during normal daily activities (Hallgren et al, 2014a Also a soft tissue connection has been described of this muscle and the posterior atlanto-occipital membrane, visualized in three distinct fiber-tipes: tendon-like, muscle-like and fascia-like bridges (Zumpano et al, 2006). Following the same idea, other authors point to the existence of a bridge of connective tissue between the RCPM muscle and dorsal spinal dura mater in the occipitoatlantal junction (Hack et al, 1995;Torres, 2008).…”