- Physical Examination
- Surgical Examination
- Ophthalmology
- Clinical Skills
- Orthopedics
- Surgery Videos
- Laparoscopy
- Pediatrics
- Funny Videos
- Cardiothoracic Surgery
- Nursing Videos
- Plastic Surgery
- Otorhinolaryngology
- Histology and Histopathology
- Neurosurgery
- Dermatology
- Pediatric Surgery
- Urology
- Dentistry
- Oncology and Cancers
- Anatomy Videos
- Health and Fitness
- Radiology
- Anaesthesia
- Physical Therapy
- Pharmacology
- Interventional Radiology
- Cardiology
- Endocrinology
- Gynecology
- Emergency Medicine
- Psychiatry and Psychology
- Childbirth Videos
- General Medical Videos
- Nephrology
- Physiology
- Diet and Food Health
- Diabetes Mellitus
- Neurology
- Women Health
- Osteoporosis
- Gastroenterology
- Pulmonology
- Hematology
- Rheumatology
- Toxicology
- Nuclear Medicine
- Infectious Diseases
- Vascular Disease
- Reproductive Health
- Burns and Wound Healing
- Kidney Zone Podcast
- Other
Back Muscles
From the broad superficial sheets that move the shoulder (trapezius, latissimus dorsi) down through the erector spinae mass to the small deep segmental muscles that stabilise each vertebra, plus the suboccipital muscles that fine-tune head movements.
This page lists all 22 of them in the reference. Open any muscle for its origin, insertion, actions, nerve supply and clinical pearl.
| Muscle | Main actions | Nerve supply |
|---|---|---|
| Erector Spinae | Extends the spine (straightens the back); Tilts the trunk to the same side | Dorsal rami of spinal nerves |
| Iliocostalis Lumborum | Extends the lumbar spine; Tilts the trunk to the same side | Dorsal rami of lumbar spinal nerves |
| Interspinales | Extend the spine slightly; Stabilise neighbouring vertebrae | Dorsal rami of spinal nerves |
| Intertransversarii | Tilt the spine to the same side; Stabilise neighbouring vertebrae | Ventral and dorsal rami of spinal nerves |
| Latissimus Dorsi | Extends the arm; Adducts the arm | Thoracodorsal nerve (C6–C8) |
| Levator Scapulae | Elevates the shoulder blade; Rotates the scapula downward | Dorsal scapular nerve (C5) and C3–C4 |
| Levatores Costarum | Elevate the ribs in breathing; Help rotate the spine | Dorsal rami of spinal nerves |
| Longissimus Capitis | Extends the head; Turns the face to the same side | Dorsal rami of spinal nerves |
| Multifidus | Stabilises individual vertebrae; Helps extend and rotate the spine | Dorsal rami of spinal nerves |
| Obliquus Capitis Inferior | Turns the face to the same side (rotates the atlas on the axis) | Suboccipital nerve (dorsal ramus of C1) |
| Psoas Minor | Weakly flexes the lumbar spine; Tenses the iliac fascia | Ventral ramus of L1 |
| Quadratus Lumborum | Tilts the trunk to the same side; Fixes the twelfth rib during breathing | Ventral rami of T12 and L1–L4 |
| Rectus Capitis Posterior Major | Extends the head; Turns the face to the same side | Suboccipital nerve (dorsal ramus of C1) |
| Rhomboid Major | Retracts the shoulder blade; Rotates the scapula downward | Dorsal scapular nerve (C4–C5) |
| Rhomboid Minor | Retracts the shoulder blade; Rotates the scapula downward | Dorsal scapular nerve (C4–C5) |
| Rotatores | Rotate the spine to the opposite side; Fine stabilisation of the spine | Dorsal rami of spinal nerves |
| Semispinalis Thoracis | Extends the thoracic and cervical spine; Rotates the spine to the opposite side | Dorsal rami of spinal nerves |
| Serratus Posterior Inferior | Depresses ribs 9–12 (helper in breathing out) | Ventral rami of T9–T12 |
| Serratus Posterior Superior | Elevates ribs 2–5 (helper in breathing in) | Intercostal nerves T1–T4 |
| Spinalis Thoracis | Extends the thoracic spine | Dorsal rami of spinal nerves |
| Splenius Cervicis | Extends the neck; Turns the face to the same side | Dorsal rami of cervical spinal nerves |
| Trapezius | Elevates, retracts and depresses the shoulder blade; Rotates the scapula upward (with serratus anterior) | Accessory nerve (CN XI), with C3–C4 branches |
Please note: This page is an anatomy education summary for students and curious readers, not medical advice. Attachment points are given in their classic short form; individual anatomy varies, and detailed dissection-level descriptions belong in an anatomy atlas.