name

proximal attachments/origin

distal attachments/insertion

movement

nerve to muscle and spinal

segment

Trapezius

medial superior nuchal line & external

protuberance of occipital bone,
ligamentum nuchae, & spinous process of
C7-T12

lateral clavicle, acromion and

spine of scapula

Upper fibers: elevate and upwardly

rotate scapula; extend neck Middle
fibers: adduct (retract) scapula Lower
fibers: depress and help upper fibers
upwardly rotate scapula

C3, C4 & accesssory cranial

nerve (XI, 11)

Latissimus dorsi

spines of lower six thoracic vertebrae,

lumbar vertebrae, iliac crest via
thoracolumbar fascia, sacrum, lower three
or four ribs, and inferior angle of scapula

floor of intertubercular (bicipital)

groove of humerus

adducts, medially rotates, and extends

arm at shoulder

thoracodorsal nerve (C6-C8)

Rhomboid major

spinous process of T2-T5 vertebrae

medial border of scapula inferior

to spine

retracts and elevates the medial border of

scapula while it downwardly rotates the
lateral angle

dorsal scapular nerve (C5)

Rhomboid minor

spinous process of C7-T1 vertebrae

medial border of scapula superior

to spine

retracts and elevates the medial border of

scapula while it downardly rotates the
lateral angle

dorsal scapular nerve (C5)

Levator scapulae

transverse processes of the C1-C4

medial border of scapula between

spine and superior angle

Elevates medial border of scapula while

downwardly roating lateral angle; helps
trapezius and rhomboid muscles pull
scapula upward and medially; bends neck
laterally

dorsal scapular nerve (C5) and

ventral primary rami of C3 and
C4

Serratus posterior superior

nuchal ligament and the spinous

processes of vertebrae C7 to T3

elevate second to fifth ribs, aids deep

inspiration

intercostal nerves T2 through T5

Serratus posterior inferior

spinous processes of vertebrae T11 to L2

depress lower ribs, aids expiration

intercostal nerves T9 through T12

Splenius capitis

inferior half of ligamentum nuchae/nuchal

ligament and spinous processes of C7T3/T4

superior nuchal line of occipital

bone and mastoid process of
temporal bone

Splenius cervicis

spinous process of T3-T6

transverse processes of C1-C3/C4

Semispinalis capitis

transverse processes of C7-T6 and

articular process of C4-C6

between superior and inferior

nuchal lines of occipital bone

inferior attachment: ilium (iliac crest)

superior attachments: angle of

ribs

Longissimus of erector spinae

(intermediate column)

inferior attachment: sacrum (and

transverse processes?)

superior attachments: transverse

processes of vertebra and rib
tubercles. (Its most superior
portion, the longissimus capitis
muscle, attaches to the mastoid
process of the temporal bone)

dorsal rami of spinal nerves

Spinalis of erector spinae

(medial column)

inferior attachments: spinous processes

superior attachments: spinous

processes (spinalis muscle is
present at lumbar, thoracic, and
cervical vertebrae levels)

dorsal rami of spinal nerves

iliocostalis of erector spinae

(lateral column)

superior borders of ribs 2 to 5,

lateral to their angles
inferior borders of ribs 9 to 12,
lateral to their angles

antagonist

bilateral action: extends head and neck

dorsal (= posterior) rami of spinal
unilateral actions: laterally flexes and
nerves C2-C6
rotates head and neck to same side
bilateral action: extends and
hyperextends head and neck unilateral
actions: laterally flexes and rotates head
and neck to same side

dorsal rami of middle and lower

cervical spinal nerves

bilateral action: extends and

hyperextends head and neck unilateral dorsal rami of middle and lower
actions: rotates head and neck to opposite
cervical spinal nerves
side
All three columns of the erector spinae
muscle extend the vertebral column when
both sides work together. If only one side
is active, it bends the VC laterally toward
the side that is active.

dorsal rami of spinal nerves

rectus
abdominis
muscle