PLM-CPT-ANATOMY-OPT 1101

MUSCLES OF THE BACK

Moore 7th Edition and Netter 6th Edition

MUSCLES OF THE SUPERFICIAL BACK

Extrinsic muscle group, limb movement
MUSCLE SIGNIFICANT ORIGIN INSERTION NERVE & ROOT ACTION
Iliac Crest,
- Powerful adductor
Lumbar Fascia, Shoulder Extension,
- Swimmer’s Back
Spinous processes Floor of Thoracodorsal Adduction, and
LATISSIMUS - Muscle for
of T6-T12, bicipital nerve Medial/Internal
DORSI climbing
Lower 3 or 4 ribs, groove (C6-C8) Rotation
- Muscle for chin-
Inferior angle of (EXADIR)
ups
scapula
Posterior Medial Dorsal Scapular
LEVATOR - Affected during Elevates medial
tubercles of C1- border of nerve (C4-C5)
SCAPULAE stiff neck border of scapula
C4 scapula and C3, C4
Medial Retracts and
RHOMBOID Spinous process of Dorsal Scapular
- border of downward rotates
MAJOR T2-T5 nerve (C4-C5)
scapula the scapula
Ligamentum Medial Retracts and
RHOMBOID Dorsal Scapular
- nuchae, Spinous border of downward rotates
MINOR nerve (C4-C5)
process of C7-T1 scapula the scapula
Upper:
Upper: Elevates
Lateral 3rd
scapula
Occipital bone, of Clavicle
Accessory Nerve Middle: Retracts
Ligamentum Middle:
TRAPEZIUS - Shawl muscle (CN XI) and rotates scapula
nuchae, Acromion
and C3, C4 Lower:
Spines of C7-T12 Lower:
Depresses medial
Spine of
border of scapula
scapula

MUSCLES OF THE INTERMEDIATE BACK

Extrinsic muscle group, “Respiratory muscles”, said to be proprioceptive, myofascial pain syndrome
MUSCLE SIGNIFICANT ORIGIN INSERTION NERVE ACTION
- Ventral rami
SERRATUS
Spinous processes Inferior aspect of lower
POSTERIOR Depresses ribs
of T11-L2 of Ribs 9-12 thoracic
INFERIOR
nerves
- Ligamentum Ventral rami
SERRATUS
nuchae, spinous Superior aspect of upper
POSTERIOR Elavates ribs
processes of C7- of Ribs 2-4 thoracic
SUPERIOR
T3 nerves

MUSCLES OF THE DEEP BACK

Intrinsic muscle group, mostly postural muscles, adjacent to the vertebral column
SUPERFICIAL LAYER OF INTRINSIC BACK
MUSCLE SIGNIFICANT ORIGIN INSERTION NERVE ACTION
Acting alone:
Splenius capitis:
laterally flex neck
fibers run
and rotate head to
superolaterally to
- Bandage-like Posterior side of active
Nuchal ligament, mastoid process of
- What usually rami of muscles
SPLENIUS spinous processes temporal bone
hurts during spinal
of C7-T6 Splenius cervicis:
stiff neck nerves Acting together:
tubercles of
extend head and
transverse
neck
processes of

TRANSCRIBED BY: VALLEJOS 1 of 2

 PLM-CPT-ANATOMY-OPT 1101

INTERMEDIATE LAYER OF INTRINSIC BACK MUSCLES

- Collectively Iliocostalis:
called lumborum,
erector thoracis, cervicis
Acting bilaterally:
spinae
extend vertebral
- Chief Arises by a broad Longissimus: Posterior
column and head
extensors tendon from thoracis, cervicis, rami of
ERECTOR SPINAE
- Important in posterior part of capitis spinal
Acting unilaterally:
weight iliac crest nerves
laterally flex
bearing Spinalis: thoracis,
vertebral column
- Affected cervicis, capitis
during back
strain
MAJOR DEEP LAYER OF INTRINSIC BACK MUSCLES
- Semispinalis
is divided
into thoracis,
a. Thoracis,
cervicis and Extension
a. C4 – T12 cervicis, capitis
capitis
b. Posterior b. Superomedially
- Semispinalis a. Extends head
sacrum, entire length
is the largest and thoracic
posterior iliac of spinous
muscle mass and cervical
spine, processes,
in posterior regions of
TRANSVERSOSPINALIS erector located 2-4
neck vertebral
spinae segments
- Semispinalis: Posterior column and
a. Semispinalis aponeurosis, superior to
bilaterally, rami of rotates them
b. Multifidus T1-T3 proximal
extend the spinal contralaterally
c. Rotatores transverse attachment
vertebral nerves b. Stabilizes
(brevis and process, c. Superomedially
column vertebrae
longus) articular to attach to
(thoracis and c. Stabilize
process of junction of
cervicis), vertebrae and
C4-C7 lamina and
unilaterally, assist with
c. Transverse transverse
rotate the local extension
process of process or
regions to and rotatory
vertebrae spinous process
opposite side movemnts
of vertebra
- Capitis
extends the
head
MINOR DEEP LAYER OF INTRINSIC BACK MUSCLES
- Help extend Superior surfaces
Posterior
VC, lateral of spinous Inferior surfaces of Aid in extension
rami of
INTERSPINALES flexion of processes of spinous processes and rotation of
spinal
superior cervical and of vertebra vertebral column
nerves
vertebra lumbar vertebrae
Posterior
Transverse and
Transverse Aid in lateral
processes of anterior
INTERTRANSVERSARII - processes of flexion of vertebral
cervical and rami of
adjacent vertebrae column
lumbar vertebrae spinal
nerves
- Accessory
Posterior
muscle for
Tips of transverse rami of
LEVATORES breathing Insert on rib Elevate ribs,
processes of C7 C8-T11
COSTARUM - Elevates the between tubercle assisting respiration
and T1-T11 spinal
ribs during
nerves
inspiration

TRANSCRIBED BY: VALLEJOS 2 of 2

 PLM-CPT-ANATOMY-OPT 1101

REFERENCES
1. Moore 7th Edition
2. Netter 6th Edition
3. UPHR-JFSM Batch 2021 Trans

TRANSCRIBED BY: VALLEJOS 3 of 2