THE RECTUS CAPITIS POSTERIOR MINOR

LET’S GET EDUCATING ! THE RECTUS CAPITIS POSTERIOR MINOR

Let’s compare similarities between human and equine body structure. See the photo attached. 


I believe that understanding what we have in common helps us to become more empathetic riders and to develop what we all seek most – a harmonious and functional partnership.



Today we will look at the rectus capitis posterior minor. 
Let’s break the name down in smaller parts to make it easy to understand because it’s quite the mouthfull. See how the name itself already informs us so much about the muscle.
* Rectus means ‘straight’ (like to stand erect is to stand up straight). In anatomy rectus muscles usually come in pairs, so we know we are looking at a pair. 
* Capitus means ‘of the head’ (like Paris is the capital of France), 
* Posterior means back side and 
* Minor means small. 

So we have a straight pair of small muscles at the back of the head. Easy!

The function of this is as a postural muscle in both the horse and human and is responsible for giving our brains feedback on our head position - they assist in proprioception and therefore also balance. 
These little muscles help us extend our head on our neck as well as aid side to side rotation.
Over-extension, compression or damage to these little guys is responsible for many headaches, which can lead to us being short-tempered. 
Think of the ‘head-shy’ horse then, who jerks his head away when we try to touch his poll, does he have a headache or is he just being ‘difficult’? What about the horse ridden with his head behind the vertical – this overextension would, at the very least, lead to chronic neck pain.

And what about whiplash – anyone who’s suffered that can identify with a horse suffering a pull-back injury. 
As many of us have come to realise a pull-back event in a horse can have serious implications because a damaged rectus capitus muscle can lead to compression of the vagus and accessory nerves causing breathlessness and high anxiety in the horse, triggering the flight response and starving the brain of oxygen. 
A nervy, flighty horse can be quite a headache to manage.

Compromised rectus capitis muscles can lead to neurological damage and affect the biomechanics of the dura matter of the brain itself causing :
inescapable postural headaches, 
dizziness, 
ringing in the ears, 
and double vision in humans. 

We can but guess what distress it may be causing our horse.

Just one to think about ! Fascinating isn’t it !