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suboccipital

suboccipital

9.9
A small muscle under the bone at the back of the skull
  • noun
  • /ˌsʌb.ɒkˈsɪp.ɪ.təl/
  • Specialized
: músculo suboccipital
  • And just look up and down and you'll feel those muscles, those called suboccipital muscles engaging, right?

Examples

  • A 38-year-old woman presented with persistent fever, neck pain, focal tenderness in the left suboccipital area, left otalgia, and photophobia.

    Academic text (2009)
  • Whether we use the suboccipital or the translabyrinthine approach, after the tumor has been exposed by standard means, the laser is brought into the field.

    Academic text (1995)
  • She also reported the development of a small, tender suboccipital swelling at the same time.

    Academic text (2006)
  • The skin and soft tissues are reflected from the mastoid and from the suboccipital for a distance of 2 cm posterior to the sigmoid sinus.

    Academic text (1996)
  • The therapist pointed out the tension in my suboccipital muscles during the neck massage.

  • He experienced pain in his suboccipital region after sitting for too long.

  • She stretched her neck to relieve tightness in the suboccipital muscles beneath her skull.

Synonyms

suboccipital muscle
vssuboccipital
  • Specialized
7.1

A small part under the base of the skull that helps move and hold the head

is the same but without mentioning movement or posture

Compounds

suboccipital muscle
  • Specialized
7.1

A small part under the base of the skull that helps move and hold the head

suboccipital area
  • Specialized
8.3

The area at the lower back of the head under the base of the skull

Surface Forms

suboccipital singular
suboccipitals plural

Morphology

suboccipital = occipital (opaque) = sub + occiput + al

The form is regularly built from 'occipital' with the prefix 'sub-' meaning beneath.

Etymology

As a noun, suboccipital names the small muscles under the back of the skull; sub- means 'under' and occipital means the 'back of the head'. These muscles are called suboccipital because they sit just below the skull and help move and support the head.