MANISH PRASAD

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MUSCLES OF SPINE
Posterior muscles of the spine
Most of the body weight is anterior to the vertebral column. For this reason, there are
many strong muscles on the posterior aspect of the spine to support and move the
vertebral column and support it upright against gravity.
There are 2 primary groups of muscles in the back:

• Extrinsic back muscles and Intermediate back muscles form one group.
• Deep or Intrinsic back muscles form the second group.

Extrinsic Back Muscles – These are the superficial and intermediate muscles that
produce and control limb and respiratory movements.
Superficial the superficial muscle
layer is shown on
right– Latissimus Dorsi, Levator
Scapulae, Rhomboids. The
Trapezius is below.

These connect the limbs to the

trunk and control limb movement.
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Intermediate the deeper layers are shown on left –

Serratus Posterior

These are superficial respiratory muscles and will be

discussed with respiration in Unit IV

Deep or Intrinsic Back Muscles – These are the deeper muscles that act to maintain
postural control and actually move the vertebral column

These muscles are also layered from superficial to

deep layers with the more superficial groups running
in 3 long columns. These 3 muscle groups run the
length of the spine and collectively are called the
Erector Spinae Muscles. The Erector Spinae
Muscles are the primary muscles that actively extend
the spine.

The intrinsic back muscles are divided into

the superficial and deeper layers.

The following are the most superficial group as seen above with muscles to the left of the
spine:

• Iliocostalis – the lateral most column

• Longissimus – the middle column
• Spinalis – the medial most column; lines up by spinous processes
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These muscles at connected superficially by a broad tendon that attaches to the ilia and
the sacrum called the Thoracolumbar Fascia.

Imagine this fascia is like the packing tape you find on a box. It is strong with small
longitudinal fibers that are difficult to tear.

The following are the deeper layer intrinsic muscles of the back as seen below:
These muscles are the small and shorter muscles that
connect the vertebra. They connect from the
transverse processes of one vertebra to the
spinous processes of the neighboring vertebra.
These muscles work together to extend and
rotate the spine. There are 3 layers of these
muscles:

• Semispinalis – superficial
• Multifidi – deeper
• Rotatores – the deepest layer

You cannot put your fingers on these muscles through

the skin. They are located very deep and below
other more superficial muscles.

Another deep muscle that impacts spine movement is the Quadratus Lumborum. It is
located between the lowest typical rib and the top of the ilia. This muscle functions to hike
your hip. Stand on the floor with weight evenly on both feet. Hike your right hip toward
you head. The quadratus lumborum on the right side must do a shortening contraction to
produce this movement.
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Quadratus Lumborum

Remember these muscles groups function primarily to extend or rotate the spine. Let’s
consider now the muscles that are located anterior to the vertebral column and function to
flex the spine.

Anterior Muscles of the Spine

The abdominal muscles together form the anterior portion of the muscle support for the
spine. They are also an integral part of core support and abdominal wall support for
respiration. The abdominal muscles as a group bring the trunk into a flexed position, or
forward bending. There are four main groups of abdominal muscles:

1) Rectus Abdominis – This is the central-most muscle which has striations across it. If
the individual is well developed and has low body fat, you can see the rectus abdominis
under the skin and see the striations. This is most often visible in men. (see illustration just
below right)

External Obliques Internal Obliques

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2) & 3) External Oblique and

Internal Oblique – these muscles
lie more laterally on the chest and
are angled from outside to middle
from above, and from outside to
middle from below. They form a
shape like an "x" across the
abdomen. They attach from the
ribs above down to the top of the
pelvis below. When these muscles
contract together they flex the
spine. When there is contraction
of one side they flex and rotate the
spine to the opposite side. (see
picture below right)

Weakness of the oblique muscles

results in decreased breathing
efficiency and decreases the
support of the intestinal organs.
The obliques act like a girdle to
support the gut area.

When the abdominal obliques

perform this action from a sit-up
position on your back there is
rotational motion that brings the
shoulder toward the
opposite knee.

4) Transverse Abdominis – this

is the deepest abdominal muscle.
It is located between the ribs and
the top of the pelvis beneath the
other abdominal muscles. It forms
a horizontal band across the gut
area. It functions as a girdle also
to compress the abdominal area.
This muscle is thought to play an
important role in stabilization of
the trunk. It is a deep holding
muscle that when activated allows
movement of the limbs around a
stable spine and pelvis.
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