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Department of Neurobiology and Developmental Sciences: Human Structure Module
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  9. Muscles of the Back Region

Muscles of the Back Region

Muscles of the Upper Limb That Are Dissected in the Back Region

MuscleOriginInsertionActionInnervationArteryNotes
latissimus dorsivertebral spines from T7 to the sacrum, posterior third of the iliac crest, lower 3 or 4 ribs, sometimes from the inferior angle of the scapulafloor of the intertubercular grooveextends the arm and rotates the arm mediallythoracodorsal nerve (C7,8) from the posterior cord of the brachial plexusthoracodorsal a.the inserting tendon twists so that fibers originating highest insert lowest
levator scapulaetransverse processes of C1-C4 vertebraemedial border of the scapula from the superior angle to the spineelevates the scapuladorsal scapular nerve (C5); the upper part of the muscle receives branches of C3 & C4dorsal scapular a.levator scapulae is named for its action
rhomboideus majorspines of vertebrae T2-T5 medial border of the scapula inferior to the spine of the scapularetracts, elevates and rotates the scapula inferiorlydorsal scapular nerve (C5)dorsal scapular a.named for its shape
rhomboideus minorinferior end of the ligamentum nuchae, spines of vertebrae C7 and T1 medial border of the scapula at the root of the spine of the scapularetracts, elevates and rotates the scapula inferiorlydorsal scapular nerve (C5)dorsal scapular anamed for its shape
serratus anteriorribs 1-8 or 9medial border of the scapula on its costal (deep) surfaceit draws the scapula forward; the inferior fibers rotate the scapula superiorlylong thoracic nerve (from ventral rami C5-C7)lateral thoracic a.a lesion of long thoracic nerve will cause winging of the scapula (i.e., the medial border of the scapula falls away from the posterior chest wall and looks like an angel's wing)
trapeziusmedial third of the superior nuchal line, external occipital protuberance, ligamentum nuchae, spinous processes of vertebrae C7-T12lateral third of the clavicle, medial side of the acromion and the upper crest of the scapular spine, tubercle of the scapular spineelevates and depresses the scapula (depending on which part of the muscle contracts); rotates the scapula superiorly; retracts scapulamotor: spinal accessory (XI), proprioception: C3-C4transverse cervical a.named for its shape; trapezius is an example of a muscle that migrates during development from its level of origin (cervical) to its final position, pulling its nerve and artery along behind

Muscles of the Back Region

MuscleOriginInsertionActionInnervationArteryNotes
erector spinaeiliac crest, sacrum, transverse and spinous processes of vertebrae and supraspinal ligamentangles of the ribs, transverse and spinous processes of vertebrae, posterior aspect of the skullextends and laterally bends the trunk, neck and headsegmentally innervated by dorsal primary rami of spinal nerves C1-S5supplied segmentally by: deep cervical a., posterior intercostal aa., subcostal aa., lumbar aa.the erector spinae m. is separated into 3 columns of muscle: iliocostalis laterally, longissimus in an intermediate position and spinalis medially; each of these columns has multiple named parts
iliocostalisiliac crest and sacrumangles of the ribsextends and laterally bends the trunk and neckdorsal primary rami of spinal nerves C4-S5supplied segmentally by: deep cervical a., posterior intercostal aa., subcostal
aa., lumbar aa.
the most lateral part of the erector spinae; it may be subdivided into lumborum, thoracis and cervicis portions
interspinalesupper border of spinous processlower border of spinous process aboveextend trunk and neckdorsal primary rami of spinal nerves C1-L5supplied segmentally by: deep cervical a., posterior intercostal aa., subcostal aa., lumbar aa.these are small and fairly insignificant muscles
intertransversariiupper border of transverse processlower border of transverse process abovelaterally bend trunk and neckdorsal primary rami of spinal nerves C1-L5supplied segmentally by: deep cervical a., posterior intercostal aa., subcostal aa., lumbar aa.these are small and fairly insignificant muscles
longissimustransverse process at inferior vertebral levelstransverse process at superior vertebral levels and mastoid processextends and laterally bends the trunk, neck and headdorsal primary rami of spinal nerves C1-S1supplied segmentally by: deep cervical a., posterior intercostal aa., subcostal aa., lumbar aa.the intermediate part of the erector spinae;it may be subdivided into thoracis, cervicis and capitis portions
multifidussacrum, transverse processes of C3-L5spinous processes 2-4 vertebral levels superior to their originextend and laterally bend trunk and neck, rotate to opposite sidedorsal primary rami of spinal nerves C1-L5supplied segmentally by: deep cervical a., posterior intercostal aa., subcostal aa., lumbar aa.semispinalis, multifidus and rotatores make up the transversospinal muscle group
obliquus capitis inferiorspinous process of the axistransverse process of atlasrotates the head to the same sidesuboccipital nerve (DPR of C1)occipital a.greater occipital nerve (DPR of C2) passes superiorly around the inferior margin of inferior oblique
obliquus capitis superiortransverse process of atlasoccipital bone above inferior nuchal lineextends the head, rotates the head to the same sidesuboccipital nerve (DPR of C1)occipital a.the suboccipital triangle is formed by obliquus capitis superior and inferior and rectus capitis posterior major
rectus capitis posterior majorspinous process of axisinferior nuchal lineextends the head, rotate to same sidesuboccipital nerve (DPR of C1)occipital a.none
rectus capitis posterior minorposterior tubercle of atlasinferior nuchal line mediallyextends the headsuboccipital nerve (DPR of C1)occipital a.rectus capitis posterior minor is deeper and inserts more medial than rectus capitis posterior major
rotatorestransverse processeslong rotatores: spines 2 vertebrae above origin; short rotatores: spines 1 vertebrae above originrotates the vertebral column to the opposite sidedorsal primary rami of spinal nerves C1-L5supplied segmentally by: deep cervical a., posterior intercostal aa., subcostal aa., lumbar aa.semispinalis, multifidus and rotatores make up the transversospinal muscle group
semispinalistransverse processes of C7-T12capitis: back of skull between nuchal lines; cervicis & thoracis: spines 4-6 vertebrae above originextends the trunk and laterally bends the trunk, rotates the trunk to the opposite sidedorsal primary rami of spinal nerves C1-T12supplied segmentally by: deep cervical a., posterior intercostal aa., subcostal aa., lumbar aa.three parts are named based on their insertions: capitis, cervicis and thoracis; semispinalis, multifidus and rotatores make up the transversospinal muscle group
serratus posterior inferior thoracolumbar fascia, spines of vertebrae T11-T12 and L1-L2 ribs 9-12, lateral to the anglespulls down lower ribsbranches of the ventral primary rami of spinal nerves T9-T12lowest posterior intercostal a., subcostal a., first two lumbar aa.a respiratory muscle, it receives ventral ramus innervation; embryonically related to the intercostal muscles, not the deep back mm.
serratus posterior superior ligamentum nuchae, spines of vertebrae C7 and T1-T3 ribs 1-4, lateral to the angleselevates the upper ribsbranches of the ventral primary rami of spinal nerves T1-T4posterior intercostal aa. 1-4a respiratory muscle, it receives ventral ramus innervation; embryonically related to the intercostal muscles, not the deep back mm.
spinalis spinous processes at inferior vertebral levelsspinous processes at superior vertebral levels and base of the skullextends and laterally bends trunk and neckdorsal primary rami of spinal nerves C2-L3supplied segmentally by: deep cervical a., posterior intercostal aa., subcostal aa., lumbar aa.most medial part of the erector spinae; may be subdivided into thoracis, cervicis and capitis portions
spleniusligamentum nuchae and spines C7-T6capitis: mastoid process & superior nuchal line laterally; cervicis: posterior tubercles of C1-C3 vertebraeextends and laterally bends neck and head; rotates head to same sidedorsal primary rami of spinal nerves C2-C6supplied segmentally by: deep cervical a., posterior intercostal aa.splenius means bandage; it gets its name from its broad, flat shape
splenius capitisligamentum nuchae and spines of C7-T6 vertebraemastoid process and lateral end of the superior nuchal lineextends and laterally bends the neck and head, rotates head to the same sidedorsal primary rami of spinal nerves C2-C6supplied segmentally by: deep cervical a., posterior intercostal aa.named for its shape: splenius means bandage and capitis refers to the insertion of this portion of the muscle
splenius cervicisligamentum nuchae and spines of C7-T6 vertebraeposterior tubercles of the transverse processes of C1-C3 vertebraeextends and laterally bends neck and head, rotates head to the same sidedorsal primary rami of spinal nerves C2-C6supplied segmentally by: deep cervical a., posterior intercostal aa.named for its shape: splenius means bandage and cervicis refers to the insertion of this portion of the muscle
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