Muscles of the deep back and neck

Question 1

Erector spinae actions

Answer 1

Bilaterally: extend spine
Unilaterally: extend and laterally flex spine

Question 2

Longissimus capitis and spinalis capitis action

Answer 2

Bilateral: extend skull on cervical vertebrae
Unilateral: extend skull while rotating to ipsilateral side

Question 3

Splenius capitis and cervicis action

Answer 3

Bilateral: extend head and neck

Unilateral : extend and laterally flex neck and head to ipsilateral side

Question 4

Actions of semispinalis thoracis and cervicis muscles

Answer 4

Bilaterally: extend thoracic and cervical spine
Unilaterally: extend and rotate the thoracic vertebrae toward opposite side, and extend and laterally flex cervical vertebrae

Question 5

Action of semispinalis capitis

Answer 5

Bilaterally: extend skull on neck
Unilaterally: extend skull and rotate face to contralateral side

Question 6

Multifidus action

Answer 6

Bilaterally: extend the lumbar and thoracic spine. Involved in stabilizing the spine

Question 7

Rotatores action

Answer 7

Rotate superior vertebra to opposite side. Especially active in thoracic region of vertebral column

Question 8

Interspinales action

Answer 8

Extend spine

Question 9

Intertransversarii action

Answer 9

Bilaterally: extend vertebral column

Unilateral action is to flex the spine

Question 10

Rectus capitis posterior major action

Answer 10

Extend head, some rotation

Question 11

Sub occipital muscle innervation

Answer 11

Dorsal rami of C1 (sub occipital nerve)

Question 12

Rectus capitis posterior minor action

Answer 12

Extend the head

Question 13

Obliquus capitis inferior action

Answer 13

Turn head to ipsilateral side

Question 14

Obliquus capitis superior action

Answer 14

Tips head back to same side