The Spinal Muscles: An Extensive Guide
| Vertebral Muscle Types | Location |
| Forward flexors | Anterior |
| Lateral flexors | Lateral |
| Rotators | Lateral |
| Extensors | Posterior |
Table of Contents
The Posterior Cervical and Upper Thoracic Spinal Muscles
- Semispinalis Capitus – controls the head rotation and backward pulls
- Iliocostalis Cervicis – extends the cervical vertebrae
- The Longissimus Cervicus – extends the cervical vertebrae
- Longissimus Capitus – controls the head’s rotation and backward pulls
- Longissimus Thoracis – controls the extension/lateral flexion of the vertebral column and rib rotation
- Iliocostalis Thoracis – controls the extension/lateral flexion of the vertebral column and rib rotation
- Semispinalis Thoracis – extends and rotates the vertebral column
Muscles of the Spinal Column
Cervical muscles
| Cervical Muscles | Function | Nerve |
| Sternocleidomastoid | Extends and rotates the head and flexes the vertebral column | C2, C3 |
| Scalenus | Flexes and rotates the neck | Lower cervical |
| Spinalis Cervicis | Extends and rotates the head | Middle/lower cervical |
| Spinalis Capitus | Extends and rotates the head | Middle/lower cervical |
| Semispinalis Cervicis | Extends and rotates the vertebral column | Middle/lower cervical |
| Semispinalis Capitus | Rotates the head and pulls backward | C1-C5 |
| Splenius Cervicis | Extends the vertebral column | Middle/lower cervical |
| Longus Colli Cervicis | Flexes the cervical vertebrae | C2-C7 |
| Longus Capitus | Flexes the head | C1-C3 |
| Rectus Capitus Anterior | Flexes the head | C2, C3 |
| Rectus Capitus Lateralis | Bends the head laterally | C2, C3 |
| Iliocostalis Cervicis | Extends the cervical vertebrae | Middle/lower cervical |
| Longissimus Cervicis | Extends the cervical vertebrae | Middle/lower cervical |
| Longissimus Capitus | Rotates the head and pulls backward | Middle/lower cervical |
| Rectus Capitus Posterior Major | Extends and rotates the head | Suboccipital |
| Rectus Capitus Posterior Minor | Extends the head | Suboccipital |
| Obliquus Capitus Inferior | Rotates the atlas | Suboccipital |
| Obliquus Capitus Superior | Extends and bends the head laterally | Suboccipital |
Thoracic Muscles
| Thoracic muscles | Function | Nerve |
| Longissimus Thoracis | Extension, lateral flexion of the vertebral column, and rib rotation | Dorsal primary divisions of the spinal nerves |
| Iliocostalis Thoracis | Extension, lateral flexion of the vertebral column, and rib rotation | Dorsal primary divisions of the spinal nerves |
| Spinalis Thoracis | Extends the vertebral column | Dorsal primary divisions of the spinal nerves |
| Semispinalis Thoracis | Extends and rotates the vertebral column | Dorsal primary divisions of the spinal nerves |
| Rotatores Thoracis | Extends and rotates the vertebral column | Dorsal primary divisions of the spinal nerves |
Lumbar muscles
| Lumbar muscles | Function | Nerve |
| Psoas Major | Flexes the thigh at the hip joint and the vertebral column | L2, L3, sometimes L1 or L4 |
| Intertransversarii Lateralis | Lateral flexion of the vertebral column | The ventral primary division of the spinal nerves |
| Quadratus Lumborum | Lateral flexion of the vertebral column | T12, L1 |
| Interspinales | Extends the vertebral column | Dorsal primary divisions of the spinal nerves |
| Intertransversarii Mediales | Lateral flexion of the vertebral column | Dorsal primary divisions of the spinal nerves |
| Multifidus | Extends and rotates the vertebral column | Dorsal primary divisions of the spinal nerves |
| Longissimus Lumborum | Extends and rotates the vertebral column | Dorsal primary divisions of the spinal nerves |
| Iliocostalis Lumborum | Extension, lateral flexion of the vertebral column, and rib rotation | Dorsal primary divisions of the spinal nerves |
Muscle Fascia Fibrous Tissue
- Fascia is the thickened connective tissue that surrounds a muscle or muscle group. Superficial fascia is directly under the skin.
- Epimysium surrounds the skeletal muscle.
- Perimysium is the sheath that groups the muscle fibers into bundles.
- Endomysium is another type of connective tissue that sheaths each muscle fiber.
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