6.

2, p755)

Innervation

Main Action

Trapezius

medial third of superior nuchal line;

external occipital protuberance; nuchal
ligament; spinous processes of C7-C12
vertebrae

Lateral third of clavicle; acromion &

spine of scapula

-accessory nerve (CN

XI) (motor fibers) &
-C3, C4 spinal nerves
(pain & proprioceptive
fibers)

Latissimus Dorsi

spinous processes of inferior 6 thoracic

vertebrae, thoracolumbar fascia, iliac
crest, & inferior 3 or 4 ribs

floor of intertubercular groove of

humerus

thoracodorsal nerve C6C8

Descending part elevates; ascending part

depresses; & middle part (or all parts
together) retracts scapula; descending &
ascending parts act together to rotate
glenoid cavity superiorly
extends, adducts, & medially rotates
humerus; raises body toward arms during
climbing

Levator Scapulae

posterior tubercles of transverse

processes of C1-C4 vertebrae

medial border of scapula superior to

root of spine

dorsal scapular (C5) &

cervical (C3, C4) nerves

Elevates scapula & tilts its glenoid cavity

inferiorly by rotating scapula

Spinous processes of T2-T5

vertebrae
nuchal ligament; spinous processes of
C7 & T1 vertebrae
nuchal ligament, spinous processes of
C7-T3 vertebrae

medial border of scapula from level

of spine to inferior angle
smooth triangular area at medial end
of scapular spine

Dorsal scapular nerve

(C4, C5)

Retracts scapula & rotates it to depress

glenoid cavity; fix scapula to thoracic wall

Superior borders of 2nd to 4th ribs

2nd-5th intercostal
space

elevate ribs

inferior borders of 8th-12th ribs near

their angles

anterior rami of T9-T12

thoracic spinal nerves

depresses ribs

Posterior rami of spinal

nerves

Acting along: laterally flex neck & rotate

head to side of active muscles -Acting
together: extend head & neck

Rhomboid Minor

4.5, p537)

1.2 p94)

Serratus Posterior
Superior

4.6, p538)

Superficial
Intrinsic (Table
Intermediate Intrinsic (Table

Insertion

Rhomboid Major

Intermediate
Extrinsic (Table

Superficial Extrinsic Group (Table

Muscle

Serratus Posterior
Inferior

Splenius

Erector Spinae

Back v.3

Origin

spinous processes of T11-L2 vertebrae

Arises from the nuchal ligament &

spinous processes of C7-T3 or T4
vertebrae

Arises by a broad tendon from

posterior part of iliac crest, posterior
surface of sacrum, sacroiliac
ligaments, sacral & inferior lumbar
spinous processes, & supraspinous
ligament

-Splenius Capitis: fibers run

superolaterally to mastoid process of
temporal bone & lateral third of
superior nuchal line of occipital bone
-Splenius cervicis: tubercles of
transverse processes of C1-C3/4
vertebrae
-Spinalis: thoracis, cervicis, capitis;
fibers run superiorly to spinous
processes in the upper thoracic
region & to cranium
-Longissimus: thoracis, cervicis,
capitis; fibers run superiorly to ribs
between tubercles & angles to
transverse processes in thoracic &
cervical regions, & to mastoid
process of temporal bone
-Iliocostalis: lumborum, thoracis,
cervicis; fibers run superiorly to
angles of lower ribs & cervical
transverse processes

joe.seo, liz.carter & samantha.evans

Posterior rami of spinal

nerves

-Acting bilaterally: extend vertebral

column & head; as back is flexed, control
movement by gradually lengthening their
fibers
-Acting unilaterally: laterally flex vertebral
column

Muscle

Innervation

Info/Misc.

Main Action

Extension

extends head & thoracic &

cervical regions of vertebral
column & rotates them
contralaterally

transverse processes

spinous processes of more

superior vertebrae

-Semispinalis

arises from transverse

processes of C4-T12
vertebrae

thoracis, cervicis, capitis;

fibers run superomedially to
occipital bone & spinour
processes in thoracic &
cervical regions, spanning 4-6
segments

the superficial member of the

transversospinal group, consists
of three parts according to their
superior attachments: capitis,
thoracis, cervicis

-Multifidus

arises from posterior sacrum,

posterior superior iliac spine
of ilium, aponeurosis of
erector spinae, sacroiliac
ligaments, mammillary
processes of lumbar
vertebrae, transverse
processes of T1-T3, articular
processes of C4-C7

thickest in lumbar region;

fibers pass obliquely
superomedially to entire
length of spinous processes
of vertebrae, located 2-4
segments superior to origin

arise from transverse

processes of vertebrae

fibers pass superomedially to

attach to junction of lamina &
transverse process or spinous
process of vertebra
immediately (brevis) or 2
segments (longus) superior to
vertebra of origin

Interspinales

Superior surfaces of spinous

processes of cervical &
lumbar vertebrae

inferior surfaces of spinous

processes of vertebra
superior to vertebra of origin

posterior rami of
spinal nerves

Intertransversarii

transverse processes of
cervical & lumbar vertebrae

transverse processes of
adjacent vertebrae

posterior &
anterior rami of
spinal nerves

Levatores costarum

tips of transverse processes

of C7 & T1-T11 vertebrae

Pass inferolaterally and insert

on rib between tubercle &
angle

Posterior rami of
C8-T11 spinal
nerves

(Table 4.7, p539)

Deep Intrinsic

Insertion

deep to the erector spinae in an

obliquely disposed group of
much shorter mm called
transversospinal m group,
consisting of semispinalis,
multifidus, rotatores

Transversospinalis:

-Rotatores

Minor Deep Intrinsic

Origin

posterior rami of
spinal nerves

middle layer consists of short

triangular muscle bundles;
thickest in the lumbar region

deepest;
best developed in the thoracic
region

stabilizes vertebrae during

local movements of vertebral
column

stabilize vertebrae & assist

with local extension &
rotatory movements of
vertebral column; may
function as organs of
proprioception
aid in extension & rotation of
vertebral column;
acting bilaterally, stabilize
vertebral column
aid in lateral flexion of
vertebral column; acting
bilaterally, stabilize vertebral
column
Elevate ribs, assisting
respiration; assist with lateral
flexion of vertebral column

th
Major Sources include Moores COA 5 , Stedmans Medical Dictionary, Grants Dissector

Thank you Samantha out the Excel table version

Back v.3

joe.seo, liz.carter & samantha.evans

p541)

Principle Muscles
Producing
Movements of the
Thoracic &
Lumbar
Intervertebral (IV)
Joints Table 4.9,
p542)

Principle Muscles
Producing
Movement of the
Cervical
Intervertebral
Jionts (Table 4.8,

Flexion

Sternocleidomastoid

Bilateral action of:

Rectus abdominis
Psoas major
Gravity

(Table 4.10, p545)

Muscle
Suboccipital Muscles

Extension

Bilateral action of:

Longus coli
Scalene

Rectus capitis posterior

major
Rectus capitis posterior
minor
Inferior oblique of head
(L. m. obliquus capitis
inferior)
superior oblique of head
(L. m. obliquus capitis
superior)

Lateral bending

Deep neck muscles:

1. semispinalis cervicis &
iliocostalis cervicis
2. splenius cervicis & levator
scapulae
3. splenius capitis
4. multifidus
5. longissimus capitis
6. semispinalis capitis
T. trapezius
Bilateral action of:
Erector spinae
Multifidus
Semispinalis thoracis

Origin

Unilateral action of:

Rotatores
Semispinalis capitis & cervicis
Multifidus
Splenius cervicis

Unilateral action of:

Iliocostalis thoracis & lumborum
Longissimus toracis
Multifidus
External & internal oblique
Quadratus lumborum
Rhomboids
Serratus anterior

Unilateral action of:

Rotatores
Multifidus
Iliocostalis
Longissimus
External oblique acting synchronously with
opposite internal oblique
Splenius thoracis
(See bracket to rotatores & multifidus: Transversopinalis)

Insertion

spinous process of vertebra C2

posterior tubercle of posterior arch

of vertebra C1

transverse process of vertebra C1

Rotation (not illustrated)

Unilateral action of:

Iliocostalis cervicis
Longissimus capitis & cervicis
Splenius capitis & cervicis
Intertransverse & scalenes

lateral part of inferior nuchal line of

occipital bone
medial part of inferior nuchal line of
occipital bone

Aspect of

Structures

superomedial boundary

rectus capitis posterior major

rectus capitis posterior minor

transverse process of vertebra C1

inferolateral boundary

obliquus capitis inferior

occipital bone between superior &

inferior nuchal lines

superolateral boundary

obliquus capitis superior

posterior atlanto-occipital membrane
& posterior arch of vertebra C1
semispinalis capitis
vertebral artery & suboccipital nerve

floor
roof
contents

Principle Muscles Producing Movement of the Atlanto-Occipital Joints

(Table 4.11, p546)

(Table 4.12, p546)

Flexion

Extension

Longus capitis
Rectus capitis anterior
Anterior fibers of
sternocleidomastoid
Suprahyoid & infrahyoid muscles

Rectus capitis posterior major & minor

Obliquus capitis superior
Splenius capitis
longissimus capitis
trapezius

Back v.3

Principle Muscles Producing Movement of the AtlantoAxial Joints

Lateral bending
sternocleidomastoid
obliquus capitis superior
rectus capitis lateralis
longissimus capitis
splenius capitis

joe.seo, liz.carter & samantha.evans

Ipsilateral
obliquus capitis inferior
rectus capitis posterior, major & minor
longissimus capitis
splenius capitis

Contralateral
sternocleidomastoid
semispinalis capitis

Back v.3

joe.seo, liz.carter & samantha.evans