Muscles of the back are 3 groups:

I- Superficial Group ->Movement of the Appendicular Skeleton

All of these superficial muscles are innervated by the Anterior Ramus of

the Spinal nerves not the posterior one and the reason of that is that
these muscles used to be located at a region outside the back in the
embryonic period and then migrated.

1- Trapezius

From the Occipital bone to the lower T vertebrae.

Origin Insertion Innervation Function

- External Occipital Protuberance - Lateral 1/3 of Clavicle - Accessory Nerve XI - Rotation, Retraction,
- Spinous Processes (C7 – T12) - Acromion - C3 and C4 Elevation, and Depression of the
- Nuchal Ligament Before 21
-> - Spine of the Scapula Scapula
- Superior Nuchal Line
Antagonist
- Serratus Anterior
- Latissimus Dorsi
- Great Chest muscles (Pectoralis Major, Minor and Serratus Anterior)

3 Main parts:

1) Upper (Descending)

Supports the weight of the arm.

2) Middle (Transverse)

Retracts the Scapula.

3) Lower (Ascending)

Rotates and depresses the Scapula.

2- Latissimus Dorsi

Origin Insertion Innervation Function

- Spinous Processes of T7 to L5 - Intervertebral Groove of the - C6 – C8 If moved toward the origin:
- Iliac Crest Humours 1) - Adducts, extends, and internally
Not
- Inf 3 – 4 ribs from the slide rotates the arm
- Inf angle of the Scapula If moved toward the insertion:
- Rotates the trunk
Antagonist
- Deltoid
- Trapezius
 3- Rhomboid Minor

Origin Insertion Innervation Function

- Nuchal Ligaments - Medial border of the Scapula - Dorsal Scapular - Retracts and rotates the
- Spinous Process C7 – T1 (Sup to the Rhomboid Minor) Nerve C4 – C5 Scapula
- Fixes the Scapula to the
Thoracic Wall
Antagonist
Serratus Anterior

4- Rhomboid Major

Origin Insertion Innervation Function

- Spinous Processes - Median border of the - Dorsal Scapular Nerve C4 – C5 - Retracts and rotates the
of T2 – T5 Scapula (Inf to Rhomboid Scapula
Minor) - Depress the Glenoid
Cavity
- Fixes the Scapula to the
Thoracic Wall
Antagonist
- Serratus Anterior
-
, :Scapula S
5- Levator Scapulae

Origin Insertion Innervation Function

- Post Tubercle of the - Sup border of the - C3 – C4 - Lifts (Elevates) the scapula
transverse process C1 – C4 medial border of the - Dorsal Scapular Nerve C4 – - Tilts the glenoid cavity inf
Scapula C5

II- Intermediate Group >

Known as Respiratory Group due to their respiratory function

Innervated by the Anterior Rami of spinal nerves (Due to the same

embryonic reason of the Superficial Muscles

1- Serratus Posterior Superior

Origin Insertion Function

- Nuchal Ligament - 2 – 5th ribs
nd
- Elevates 2 to 5th ribs (The ribs
nd

- Spinous Processes of C7 of respiration)

and T2 (or T3) Respiration
=>

- Supraspinal Ligament

2- Serratus Posterior Inferior

Origin Insertion Innervation Function

- Spinous Processes T11 – - 9th – 12th ribs - Intercostal Nerves T9 – - Rotation and extension of the
L2 T12 trunk
- Movements of the ribs its
inserted to ->Expiration of Lungs

Expiration
=>
 III- Deep Group

Composed of 4 main groups:

Spinotransversale Erector Spinae Transversospinale Segmental Muscles

Lateral
- Splenius Capitis
-- Iliocostalis
-
- Semispinalis - Levatores Costarum
- Splenius Cervicis ilium - Longissimus - Multifidus - Interspinales
- Spinalis ↳
~Medial from
long - Rotatores - Intertransversarii

1) Spinotransversale

1- Splenius Capitis

Origin Insertion Function

- Spinous Processes of C7 – T3 - Mastoid process - Head extension
(or T4) - Occipital bone below the Superior Nuchal - Lateral flexion and rotation of the
line C spine
2- Splenius Cervicis

Origin Insertion Function

- Spinous Processes of T3 – T6 - Posterior tubercle of the transverse - C spine extension
processes of C1 – C2 (or C3) - Rotation and lateral flexion to the
ipsilateral side
2) Erector Spinae

1- Iliocostalis
The functions of Iliocostalis Muscles are:
- Unilaterally: Laterally flexion of the vert column
- Bilaterally: Extension of the vert column
Antagonist: Rectus Abdominis Muscle
Composed of three branches:
1) Iliocostalis Cervicis
2) Iliocostalis Thoracis
3) Iliocostalis Lumborum

Origin Insertion
Iliocostalis Cervicis - First 6 ribs - Post Tubercle of the Transverse Processes
of C4 – C6
Iliocostalis Thoracis - Last 6 ribs - First 6 ribs
Iliocostalis Lumborum - Sacrum - 7th to 12th ribs
- Iliac Crest
- Spinous Processes of the L and lower T vert.

2- Longissimus
The functions of Longissimus Muscles are:
- Laterally: Flexes the head and neck
- Bilaterally: Extension of the vert column
Antagonist: Rectus Abdominis Muscle
 Composed of three branches:
1) Longissimus Thoracis
2) Longissimus Cervicis
3) Longissimus Capitis

Origin Insertion
Longissimus Thoracis - Sacrum - Transverse Processes of L
- Spinous Processes of L - Erector Spinae Aponeurosis
- Transverse Processes of the last T - Ribs
- Costal Processes of the T
Longissimus Cervicis - Transverse Processes of T1 – T6 - Transverse Processes of C1 – C7
Longissimus Capitis - Transverse Processes of T1 – T3 - Mastoid Process

3- Spinalis
The functions of Spinalis Muscles are:
- Laterally: Flexes the head and neck
- Bilaterally: Extension of the vert column
Antagonist: Rectus Abdominis Muscle
Composed of three branches:
1) Spinalis Capitis
2) Spinalis Cervicis
3) Spinalis Thoracis

Origin Insertion
Spinalis Capitis - C and upper T - External Occipital Protuberance
Spinalis Cervicis - Spinous Processes of C6 – T2 - Spinous Processes of C2 – C4
Spinalis Thoracis - Spinous Processes of T10 – L3 - Spinous Processes of T2 – T8

3) Transversospinale

The main function of these muscles:

- Rotation and Extension of Vert Column.
1- Semispinalis
Composed of three branches:
1) Semispinalis Thoracis
2) Semispinalis Cervicis
3) Semispinalis Capitis

Origin Insertion
Semispinalis Thoracis - Transverse Processes of T6 – T10 - Spinous Processes of C6 – T4
Semispinalis Cervicis - Transverse Processes of first 5 or 6 T - Transverse Processes of C2 – C6
Semispinalis Capitis - Transverse Processes of T1 – T6 - Superior Nuchal Line

2- Multifidus

Origin Insertion Function

- Sacrum - Spinous Processes of C2 – L5 - Bilateral: Extension
- Erector Spinae Aponeurosis - Unilateral: Side-bending to
- Posterior Superior Iliac Spine PSIS Ipsilateral side and rotation to
- Iliac Crest Contralateral Side
 3- Rotatores
Composed of three branches:
1) Rotatores Cervicis
2) Semispinalis Thoracis
3) Semispinalis Lumborum

Origin Insertion
- Transverse Processes of T - Spinous Processes of T

4) Segmental Muscles

Composed of three branches:

1) Levatores Costarum
2) Interspinales
3) Intertransversarii

Origin Insertion Function

Levatores - Transverse Processes C7 – T11 - Ribs - Elevation of T rib cage
Costarum
Interspinales - Spinous Processes - Spinous Processes - Extension of Vert. Column
Intertransversarii - Transverse Processes - Transverse Processes - Lateral Flexion of Trunk

Suboccipital Muscles:

Two Rectus (Straight):

1- Rectus Capitis Posterior Major

2- Rectus Capitis Posterior Minor

Two Obliquus (Oblique):

1- Obliquus Capitis Superior

2- Obliquus Capitis Inferior

All of them are innervated by the Suboccipital Nerve

Origin Insertion Function

Rectus Capitis Posterior Major - Spinous Process of Axis - Occipital bone - Ipsilateral rotation of head and
extension
Rectus Capitis Posterior Minor - Posterior Arch of Atlas - Occipital bone - Head extension
Obliquus Capitis Superior Transverse Process of - Occipital bone - Head extension
Atlas
Obliquus Capitis Inferior - Spine of the Axis - Transverse process - Head rotation
of Atlas
 Muscles
of back

superficial intermediate Deep

Posterior Posterior
Trapezius Rhomboid Rhomboid servat us Servatus
minor major superior inferior

Levator
latissmus
dorsi scapula

spinotransversalis Errector spinal

Segmental m. suboccipital Transversospinalis

splenius splenius levatores

Costarm interspinalis intertransversavii
Capitis Cervicis

iliocostalis
longissismus Spinalis
actspost. Cap, easterior obliques
Capitis
obliques
Capitis
minor
major superior interior
~

Cervicis Thoracis humborun

cervicis Thoracis humborum

Cervicis Thoracis humborum Semispinalis Multifidus Rotatores

Cervicis Thoracis Capitis Cervices Thoracis lumborum