Medical Gross Anatomy
Anatomy Tables - Muscles

Muscles of the Back Region - Listed Alphabetically
Muscle Origin Insertion Action Innervation Artery Notes Image
erector spinae iliac crest, sacrum, transverse and spinous processes of vertebrae and supraspinal ligament angles of the ribs, transverse and spinous processes of vertebrae, posterior aspect of the skull extends and laterally bends the trunk, neck and head segmentally innervated by dorsal primary rami of spinal nerves C1-S5 supplied 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
iliocostalis iliac crest and sacrum angles of the ribs extends and laterally bends the trunk and neck dorsal primary rami of spinal nerves C4-S5 supplied 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
interspinales upper border of spinous process lower border of spinous process above extend trunk and neck dorsal primary rami of spinal nerves C1-L5 supplied segmentally by: deep cervical a., posterior intercostal aa., subcostal aa., lumbar aa. these are small and fairly insignificant muscles
intertransversarii upper border of transverse process lower border of transverse process above laterally bend trunk and neck dorsal primary rami of spinal nerves C1-L5 supplied segmentally by: deep cervical a., posterior intercostal aa., subcostal aa., lumbar aa. these are small and fairly insignificant muscles
longissimus transverse process at inferior vertebral levels transverse process at superior vertebral levels and mastoid process extends and laterally bends the trunk, neck and head dorsal primary rami of spinal nerves C1-S1 supplied 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
multifidus sacrum, transverse processes of C3-L5 spinous processes 2-4 vertebral levels superior to their origin extend and laterally bend trunk and neck, rotate to opposite side dorsal primary rami of spinal nerves C1-L5 supplied segmentally by: deep cervical a., posterior intercostal aa., subcostal aa., lumbar aa. semispinalis, multifidus and rotatores make up the transversospinal muscle group
obliquus capitis inferior spinous process of the axis transverse process of atlas rotates the head to the same side suboccipital nerve (DPR of C1) occipital a. greater occipital nerve (DPR of C2) passes superiorly around the inferior margin of inferior oblique
obliquus capitis superior transverse process of atlas occipital bone above inferior nuchal line extends the head, rotates the head to the same side suboccipital 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 major spinous process of axis inferior nuchal line extends the head, rotate to same side suboccipital nerve (DPR of C1) occipital a. none
rectus capitis posterior minor posterior tubercle of atlas inferior nuchal line medially extends the head suboccipital nerve (DPR of C1) occipital a. rectus capitis posterior minor is deeper and inserts more medial than rectus capitis posterior major
rotatores transverse processes long rotatores: spines 2 vertebrae above origin; short rotatores: spines 1 vertebrae above origin rotates the vertebral column to the opposite side dorsal primary rami of spinal nerves C1-L5 supplied segmentally by: deep cervical a., posterior intercostal aa., subcostal aa., lumbar aa. semispinalis, multifidus and rotatores make up the transversospinal muscle group
semispinalis transverse processes of C7-T12 capitis: back of skull between nuchal lines; cervicis & thoracis: spines 4-6 vertebrae above origin extends the trunk and laterally bends the trunk, rotates the trunk to the opposite side dorsal primary rami of spinal nerves C1-T12 supplied 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
spinalis spinous processes at inferior vertebral levels spinous processes at superior vertebral levels and base of the skull extends and laterally bends trunk and neck dorsal primary rami of spinal nerves C2-L3 supplied 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
splenius ligamentum nuchae and spines C7-T6 capitis: mastoid process & superior nuchal line laterally; cervicis: posterior tubercles of C1-C3 vertebrae extends and laterally bends neck and head; rotates head to same side dorsal primary rami of spinal nerves C2-C6 supplied segmentally by: deep cervical a., posterior intercostal aa. splenius means bandage; it gets its name from its broad, flat shape
splenius capitis ligamentum nuchae and spines of C7-T6 vertebrae mastoid process and lateral end of the superior nuchal line extends and laterally bends the neck and head, rotates head to the same side dorsal primary rami of spinal nerves C2-C6 supplied 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 cervicis ligamentum nuchae and spines of C7-T6 vertebrae posterior tubercles of the transverse processes of C1-C3 vertebrae extends and laterally bends neck and head, rotates head to the same side dorsal primary rami of spinal nerves C2-C6 supplied 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

The material presented in these tables is contained in the book:
MedCharts Anatomy by Thomas R. Gest & Jaye Schlesinger
Published by ILOC, Inc., New York
Copyright © 1995, unauthorized use prohibited.
 The excellent editorial assistance of
Dr. Pat Tank, UAMS
is gratefully acknowledged.
Copyright© 2000 Thomas R. Gest, PhD Unauthorized use prohibited.