Spine muscles Flashcards
What is the rectus abdominis?
They are the most superficial muscles of the abdomen. They run from the pubis to the rib cage. Their main function is to flex the vertebral column. They also compress the abdominal contents during defacation and childbirth.
What are the external obliques?
They are paired superficial muscles that make up the lateral walls of the abdomen. Their fibres run downward and medially from the last eight ribs and attach to the ilium. Like the rectus abdominis they flex the vertebral column, but also rotate the trunk.
What are the internal obliques?
They are paired muscles deep to the external obliques. Their fibres run at right angles to those of the external obliques. They arise from the iliac crest and insert into the last three ribs, their functions are the same as the external obliques.
What is the erector spinae?
It is the prime mover of back extension. These paired muscles are deep muscles of the back. Each erector spinae is a composite muscle consisting of three muscle columns - longissimus, iliocostalis and spinalis - that collectively span the entire length of the vertebral column. These muscles act as back extensors but also provide resistance that helps provide resistance that helps control the action of bending over at the waist.
What is the multifidus?
These are deep posterior spinal muscles, they are concerned with rotation. It consists of a number of fleshy and tendinous fasciculi, which fill up the groove on either side of the spinous processes of the vertebrae, from the sacrum to the axis. It is a very thin muscle. Deep in the spine, it spans three joint segments and works to stabilise the joint segmental level.
What are the spine muscles?
Rectus abdominus, external obliques, internal obliques, erector spinae, transverse abdominus, multifidus.
