Muscles of the spine
The transversospinales are a group of muscles of the human back. Their combined action is rotation and extension of the vertebral column. These muscles are small and have a poor mechanical advantage for contributing to motion. They include: the three semispinalis muscles, the multifidus muscle, and the rotatores muscles.
Location
The three semispinalis muscles, span 4-6 vertebral segments:
- semispinalis thoracis
- semispinalis cervicis
- semispinalis capitis
The multifidus muscle, and spans 2-4 vertebral segments
The rotatores muscles, lie beneath the multifidus, and spans 1-2 vertebral segments
- rotatores cervicis
- rotatores thoracis
- rotatores lumborum
External links
- Musculoskeletal Interventions: Techniques for Therapeutic exercise. Authors: Michael L. Voight, Barabara J. Hoogenboom, William E. Prentice.