MUSCLES OF THE BACK

DELTOID
ORIGIN
Lateral third of clavicle, acromion, spine of scapula to deltoid tubercle

INSERTION
Middle of lateral surface of humerus (deltoid tuberosity)

ACTION
Abducts arm, anterior fibers flex and medial rotate, posterior fibers extend and
lateral rotate

NERVE
Axillary nerve (C5, 6) (from posterior cord)

ERECTOR SPINAE-SPINALIS
ORIGIN
Spinous processes

INSERTION
Spinous processes six levels above

ACTION
Lateral flexion of spine

NERVE
Posterior primary rami

ERECTOR SPINAE-ILIOCOSTALIS
ORIGIN
Iliac crest, sacrum, lumbar vertebrae

INSERTION
Ribs, cervical transverse processes

ACTION
Extends and lateral flexes spine

NERVE
Posterior primary rami

ERECTOR SPINAE-LONGISSIMUS
ORIGIN
Transverse processes

INSERTION
Transverse processes several levels above

ACTION
Extends spine

NERVE
Posterior primary rami

INFRASPINATUS

ORIGIN
Medial three quarters of infraspinous fossa of scapula and
fibrous intermuscular septa

INSERTION
Middle facet of greater tuberosity of humerus and capsule of
shoulder joint

ACTION
Laterally rotates arm and stabilizes shoulder joint

NERVE
Suprascapular nerve (C5, 6 ) (from upper trunk)

INTERSPINALIS
ORIGIN
Spinous processes

INSERTION
Spinous processes one above

ACTION
Extension of spine

NERVE
Posterior primary rami

LATISSIMUS DORSI

ORIGIN
Spine T7, spinous processes and supraspinous ligaments of all lower thoracic,
lumbar and sacral vertebrae, lumbar fascia, posterior third iliac crest, last four
ribs (interdigitating with external oblique abdominis) and inferior angle of
scapula

INSERTION
Floor of bicipital groove of humerus after spiraling around teres major

ACTION
Extends, adducts and medially rotates arm. Costal attachment helps with deep
inspiration and forced expiration

NERVE
Thoracodorsal nerve (C6, 7, 8) (from posterior cord)

LEVATOR SCAPULAE
ORIGIN
Posterior tubercles of transverse processes of C1-4

INSERTION
Upper part of medial border of scapula

ACTION
Raises medial border of scapula

NERVE
Anterior primary rami of C3 and C4 and dorsal scapular nerve (C5)

LEVATORES COSTARUM

ORIGIN
Transverse processes C7 to T11

INSERTION
Posterior surface and angle of rib below

ACTION
Elevates ribs

NERVE
Posterior primary rami

OBLIQUUS CAPITIS INFERIOR

ORIGIN
Spinous process of axis (C2)

INSERTION
Lateral mass of atlas (C1)

ACTION
Rotates atlanto-axial joint

NERVE
Suboccipital nerve (posterior primary ramus of C1)

OBLIQUUS CAPITIS SUPERIOR

ORIGIN
Lateral mass of atlas (C1)

INSERTION
Lateral half inferior nuchal line

ACTION
Lateral flexes atlanto-occipital joint

NERVE
Suboccipital nerve (posterior primary ramus of C1)

RECTUS CAPITUS POSTERIOR MAJOR

ORIGIN
Spinous process of axis (C2)

INSERTION
Lateral half of inferior nuchal line

ACTION
Extends and rotates atlanto-occipital joint

NERVE
Suboccipital nerve (posterior primary ramus C1)

RECTUS CAPITUS POSTERIOR MINOR

ORIGIN
Posterior process of atlas (C1)

INSERTION
Medial half of inferior nuchal line

ACTION
Extends and rotates atlanto-occipital joint

NERVE
Suboccipital nerve (posterior primary ramus C1)

RHOMBOID MAJOR
ORIGIN
Spines of T2-T5 and supraspinous ligaments

INSERTION
Lower half of posteromedial border of scapula, from angle
to upper part of triangular area at base of scapular spine

ACTION
Retracts scapula. Rotates scapula to rest position

NERVE
Dorsal scapular nerve (C5) (from root )

RHOMBOID MINOR
ORIGIN
Lower ligamentum nuchea, spines of C7 and T1

INSERTION
Small area of posteromedial border of scapula at level of spine,
below levator scapulae

ACTION
Retracts scapula. Rotates lower scapula back to rest position

NERVE
Dorsal scapular nerve (C5) (from root)

SERRATUS POSTERIOR INFERIOR

ORIGIN
Spinous processes and supraspinous ligaments of T11-L2

INSERTION
Posterior aspect of ribs 9-12

ACTION
Assists forced expiration

NERVE
Anterior primary rami (T9-12)

SERRATUS POSTERIOR SUPERIOR

ORIGIN
Spinous processes and supraspinous ligaments of C7-T2

INSERTION
Posterior aspect of ribs 2-5

ACTION
Assists forced inspiration

NERVE
Anterior primary rami (T2-5)

SPLENIUS CAPITIS
ORIGIN
Lower ligament nuchae, spinous processes and supraspinous
ligaments T1-3

INSERTION
Lateral occiput between superior and inferior nuchal lines

ACTION
Extends and rotates cervical spine

NERVE
Posterior primary rami of C3, 4

SPLENIUS CERVICIS

ORIGIN
Spinous processes and supraspinous ligaments of T3-6

INSERTION
Posterior tubercles of transverse processes of C1-3

ACTION
Extends and rotates cervica spine

NERVE
Posterior primary rami of C5, 6

SUPRASPINATUS
ORIGIN
Medial three quarters of supraspinous fossa of scapula, upper
surface of spine (bipennate)

INSERTION
Superior facet on greater tuberosity of humerus and capsule of
shoulder joint

ACTION
Abducts arm and stabilizes shoulder joint

NERVE
Suprascapular nerve (C5, 6)(from upper trunk)

TERES MAJOR

ORIGIN
Oval area (lower third) of lateral side of inferior angle of scapula
below teres minor

INSERTION
Medial lip of bicipital groove of humerus

ACTION
Medially rotates and adducts arm. Stabilizes shoulder joint

NERVE
Lower subscapular nerve (C5, 6) (from posterior cord)

TERES MINOR
ORIGIN
Middle third lateral border of scapula above teres major

INSERTION
Inferior facet of greater tuberosity of humerus (below
infraspinatus) and capsule of shoulder joint

ACTION
laterally rotates arm and stabilizes shoulder joint

NERVE
Axillary nerve (C5, 6) (from posterior cord)

TRANSVERSOSPINALIS-MULTIFIDUS
ORIGIN
Laminae of vertebra

INSERTION
Spinous processes two to three levels above

ACTION
Extends spine

NERVE
Posterior primary rami

TRANSVERSOSPINALIS-ROTATORES
ORIGIN
Transverse processes

INSERTION
Spinous processes one above

ACTION
Rotates spine

NERVE
Posterior primary rami

TRANSVERSOSPINALIS-SEMISPINALES
ORIGIN
Transverse processes

INSERTION
Spinous processes above and occipital bone (only semispinalis capitis part
shown)

ACTION
Extends head and spine and lateral flexes spine

NERVE
Posterior primary rami

TRAPEZIUS
ORIGIN
Medial third superior nuchal line, ligament nuchae, spinous processes and
supraspinous ligaments to T12

INSERTION
Upper fibers to lateral third of posterior border of clavicle; lower to medial
acromion and superior lip of spine of scapula to deltoid tubercle

ACTION
laterally rotates, elevates and retracts scapula. If scapula is fixed, extends and
laterally flexes neck

NERVE
Spinal accessory nerve (C1-5)(spinal nerves C3 and C4 for proprioception)