muscles of the back

Question 1

trapezius origin

Answer 1

occipital protuberance and medial superior nuchal line, the ligamentum nuchae, and thoracic spines

Question 2

trapezius insertion

Answer 2

lateral 1/3 of the clavicle, acromion, and spine of the scapula

Question 3

trapezius actions

Answer 3

suspend/steady the shoulder
elevate and depress the scapula
upward rotation of the scapula
adduction/retraction of scapula

Question 4

trapezius innervation

Answer 4

spinal accessory nerve (cranial nerve XI)

Question 5

latissimus dorsi origin

Answer 5

spines of the lower thoracic vertebrae
lumbar and sacral vertebrae
posterior iliac crest
outer surfaces of the lower ribs,
inferior angle of scapula

Question 6

latissimus dorsi insertion

Answer 6

humerus- floor of the intertubercular groove

Question 7

latissimus dorsi actions

Answer 7

extends, medial rotate, and adduct the scapula

Question 8

latissimus dorsi innervation

Answer 8

middle subscapular (thoracodorsal) nerve

Question 9

levator scapulae origin

Answer 9

transverse processes of the upper 4 cervical vertebrae

Question 10

levator scapulae insertion

Answer 10

upper, medial border of the scapula

Question 11

levator scapulae actions

Answer 11

helps control the position and movements of the scapula
elevates the scapula
assists pec minor in rotation of scapula downwards

Question 12

levator scapulae innervation

Answer 12

dorsal scapular nerve

Question 13

rhomboid minor and major origin

Answer 13

lower part of the ligamentum nuchae

spines of upper thoracic vertebrae

Question 14

rhomboid minor and major insertion

Answer 14

medial border of the scapula

Question 15

rhomboid minor and major action

Answer 15

adduct/retract scapula
“squaring of the shoulders”
assist with scapula elevation and downward rotation

Question 16

rhomboid minor and major innervation

Answer 16

dorsal scapular nerve

Question 17

splenius origin

Answer 17

from ligamentum nuchae

spines of lower cervical, upper thoracic vertebrae

Question 18

splenius (capitus and cervicis) insertion

Answer 18

cap: onto the skull
cervicis: transverse process of the upper cervical vertebrae

Question 19

splenius action

Answer 19

• extend the head straight backwards with bilateral contractions
• flex the head and neck to the ipsilateral side in unilateral contractions and slightly rotates the head, thus turning the face to the same side as the contracting muscle

Question 20

splenius innervation

Answer 20

posterior rami of segmental spinal nerves

Question 21

posterior layer thoracolumbar fascia

Answer 21

is attached to the spines of the lumbar and sacral vertebrae, including supraspinous ligament

Question 22

middle layer thoracolumbar fascia

Answer 22

attached to the lumbar transverse processes; iliac crest

Question 23

anterior layer thoracolumbar fascia

Answer 23

covers quadratus lumborum and is attached to lumbar transverse processes

Question 24

3 muscles in the erector spinae muscle complex

Answer 24

iliocostalis,
longissimus,
spinalis

Question 25

origination of iliocostalis

Answer 25

posterior sacrum, posterior iliac crest, spines of the lumbar vertebrae and the lower 2 thoracic spines

Question 26

iliocostalis insertion

Answer 26

onto the ribs and transverse processes of hte cervical vertebrae

Question 27

longissimus origin

Answer 27

posterior sacrum, posterior iliac crest, spines of the lumbar vertebrae and the lower 2 thoracic spines

Question 28

longissimus insertion

Answer 28

onto the transverse processes and the skull

Question 29

spinalis origin

Answer 29

posterior sacrum, posterior iliac crest, spines of the lumbar vertebrae and the lower 2 thoracic spines

Question 30

spinalis insertion

Answer 30

onto spinous processes of the vertebrae

the superior portion blends with semispinalis

Question 31

erector spinae complex action

Answer 31

extension of the vertebral column
also functions in forward and lateral flexion when acting against gravity (eccentric contractions to control the motions)

Question 32

transversospinalis muscles:

Answer 32

semispinalis
multifidus
rotatores

Question 33

semispinalis origin

Answer 33

from the articular, transverse, or mammillary processes of the vertebrae

Question 34

semispinalis (capitis and cervicis) insertion

Answer 34

4-6 segments higher onto the spinous processes of cervical vertebrae and upper thoracic vertrbrae

Question 35

multifidus origin

Answer 35

from the articular, transverse, or mammillary processes of the vertebrae

Question 36

multifidus insertion

Answer 36

2-4 segments higher on the spinous processes of cervical, thoracic, and lumbar vertrbrae
best observed in the lumbar region

Question 37

rotatores origin

Answer 37

from the articular, transverse, or mammillary processes of the vertebrae

Question 38

rotatores insertion

Answer 38

inserts 1-2 segments higher onto the spinous processes

best developed in the thoracic region

Question 39

transversospinalis function

Answer 39

• extend the vertebral column
• extension of the head (bilateral contractions)
• help rotate vertebral column to the contralateral side (unilateral contraction)

Question 40

interspinales

Answer 40

attached to the spines of adjacent vertebrae

Question 41

levatores costarum

Answer 41

arise from transverse process of vertebra above (C7 to T11) and insert near tubercle of rib below
elevates the rib

Question 42

4 sub-occipital muscles

Answer 42

rectus capitus posterior major
rectus capitis posterior minor
obliquus capitis superior
obliquus capitis inferior

Question 43

rectus capitus posterior major

Answer 43

from C2 spine to occipital bone

Question 44

rectus capitis posterior minor

Answer 44

from C1 posterior tubercle to occipital bone

Question 45

obliquus capitis superior

Answer 45

from C1 transverse process to occipitial bone

Question 46

obliquus capitis inferior

Answer 46

from C2 spinous process to C1 transverse process