Spinal Muscles

Question 1

Sternocleidomastoid

Cervical

Answer 1

Action: flex and laterally rotate the cervical spine.

Attachments: Anterior and superior manubrium and superior medial third of clavicle to the lateral aspect of mastoid process and anterior half of superior nuchal line.

Question 2

Trapezius

Cervical

Answer 2

Action: laterally rotates, elevates and retracts scapula (if scapula is fixed, extends and laterally flexes neck)

Attachments: medial third of superior nuchal line, ligament nuchae and spinous processes and supraspinous ligaments to T12 to upper: lateral third of posterior border of clavicle, lower: medial acromion and superior lip of spine of scapula to deltoid tubercle

Question 3

Levator scapulae

Cervical

Answer 3

Action: Raises medial border of scapula

Attachments: Posterior tubercles of transverse processes of C1-4 to the upper part of medial border of scapula.

Question 4

Rhomboids Minor

Cervical

Answer 4

Action: Retracts scapula. Rotates lower scapula back to rest position

Attachments: nuchal ligament and spinous processes of C7 and T1 to posteromedial border of scapula.

Question 5

Rhomboids Major

Cervical

Answer 5

Action: scapular retraction, elevation and rotation inferiorly.

Attachments: Spinous Processes T2-T5 to lower half of posteromedial border of scapula.

Question 6

Erector Spinae

Cervical and lumbar

Answer 6

Iliocostalis cervicis/Lumborum/thoracis
Action: extends and laterally flexes spine

Longissimus capitis/cervicis/thoracis
Action: extends spine

Spinalis thoracis(/capitis/cervicis)
Action: lateral flexion of the spine

Question 7

Multifidus

Cervical and lumbar

Answer 7

Action: extends, rotates and laterally flexes vertebral column

Attachments: aponeurosis of erector spinae, all thoracic transverse processes and articular processes of lower 4 cervical vertebrae

Question 8

Quadratus Lumborum

Lumbar

Answer 8

Action: laterally flexes trunk, extends lumbar vertebrae

Attachments: posterior iliac crest to transverse processes of L1-L4

Question 9

Latissimus Dorsi

Lumbar

Answer 9

Action: extends, adducts and medially rotates shoulder

Attachments: spinous processes of lower 6 T and L vertebrae to intertubercular sulcus of humerus

Question 10

Abdominal muscles

Lumbar

Answer 10

Internal obliques
External obliques
Rectus abdominis
Transversus abdominis

Question 11

Internal obliques

Lumbar

Answer 11

Action: flexes, laterally flexes and rotates trunk

Attachments: iliac crest to lower 4 ribs and their cartilages

Question 12

External obliques

Lumbar

Answer 12

Action: flexes, laterally flexes and rotates trunk

Attachments: iliac crest to outer borders of lower 8 ribs and their costal cartilages

Question 13

Rectus abdominis

Lumbar

Answer 13

Action: flexes trunk

Attachments: pubic symphysis and pubic crest to 5-7 costal cartilages

Question 14

Transversus abdominis

Lumbar

Answer 14

Action: compresses abdominal contents, raises intra-abdominal pressure

Attachments: iliac crest and lower 6 costal cartilages to abdominal aponeurosis