The rectus capitis posterior major (or rectus capitis posticus major[citation needed]) is a muscle in the upper back part of the neck.

Its inferior attachment is at the spinous process of the axis (Second cervical vertebra); its superior attachment is onto the outer surface of the occipital bone on and around the side part of the inferior nuchal line.

[1] Its inferior attachment is (via a pointed tendon[1]) at (the external aspect of) the (bifid)[2] spinous process of the axis (cervical vertebra C2).

A soft tissue connection bridging from the rectus capitis posterior major to the cervical dura mater was described in 2011.

[citation needed] This article incorporates text in the public domain from page 401 of the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)