The obliquus capitis superior muscle (/əˈblaɪkwəs ˈkæpᵻtᵻs/) is a small muscle in the upper back part of the neck and is one of the suboccipital muscles. It arises from the lateral mass of the atlas bone. It passes superiorly and posteriorly to insert into the lateral half of the inferior nuchal line on the external surface of the occipital bone. The muscle is innervated by the suboccipital nerve, the dorsal ramus of the first spinal nerve.

DM: Digastric muscle; EAC: External auditory canal; IOM: Obliquus capitis inferior muscle; LEM: levator scapulae muscle; MP: mastoid process; SOM: Obliquus capitis superior muscle.

It acts at the atlanto-occipital joint to extend the head and flex the head to the ipsilateral side.