Muscles of the Neck, Back,

and Abdomen

Flexion and extension of the

head

Lateral flexion and rotation:

Muscles that move the head

Anterior:
Rectus capitis anterior
Longus capitis
Scalenes (support and respiration)

Muscles that move the head

Anterior/Lateral:
Sternocleidomastoid

Sternocleidomastoid

Sternocleidomastoid:
Origin:
Manubrium (sternum) and clavicle.

Insertion:
Mastoid process (temporal bone)

Action(s):
Both: flexion of the head and neck
Single: rotation and lateral flexion

Muscles that move the head

Posterior:

Longissimus capitis (part of erector spinae)

Spinalis capitis
Splenius capitis
Semispinalis capitis

Longissimus capitis

Longissimus Capitis
Part of the Erector Spinae group
Origin:
Spinous processes of cervical and thoracic
vertebrae

Insertion:
Mastoid process

Action:
Extension of the head at the neck (both)
Lateral flexion and rotation of the head at the
neck (one side)

Spinalis capitis (medial) and Semispinalis

capitis (lateral)

Spinalis capitis
Part of the Erector Spinae group
Origin:
Spinous processes of cervical and
thoracic vertebrae

Insertion:
Occipital bone

Action:
Extension of the head at the neck

Splenius capitis

Splenius Capitis
Origin:
Spinous process of cervical and thoracic
vertebrae (and ligamentum nuchae)

Insertion:
Mastoid process (temporal bone) and occipital
bone

Action:
Extension of the head at the neck (both)
Lateral flexion and rotation of the head at the
neck (one side)

Semispinalis capitis

Semispinalis capitis
Origin:
Transverse processes of C4-T7 vertebrae

Insertion:
Occipital bone

Action:
Extension of the head at the neck (both)
Rotation of the head at the neck (one
side)

Posterior Neck Muscles (that

move the head):
Origins:

Longissimus capitis=cervical and thoracic vertebrae

Splenius capitis= cervical and thoracic vertebrae
Spinalis capitis= cervical and thoracic vertebrae
Semispinalis capitis= cervical and thoracic vertebrae

Insertions:

Longissimus capitis= mastoid process

Splenius capitis= mastoid process and occipital bone
Spinalis capitis= occipital bone
Semispinalis capitis= occipital bone

Posterior Neck Muscles (actions)

Actions:
Longissimus capitis= extension and
lateral flexion of the head at the neck
Splenius capitis= extension, lateral
flexion, and rotation of the head at the
neck
Spinalis capitis= extension and lateral
flexion of the head at the neck
Semispinalis capitis= extension and
rotation of the head at the neck

Muscles of the vertebral column

that move the back/torso:
Superficial muscles (Erector
Spinae)
Spinalis group (medial): capitis, cervicis,
thoracis
Longissimus group (intermediate):
capitis, cervicis, thoracis
Iliocostalis group (lateral): cervicis,
thoracis, lumborum

Erector spinae:
Iliocostalis

Longissimus

Spinalis

Spinalis group

(cervicis and thoracis)

Longissimus Group

( cervicis and thoracis)

Iliocostalis cervicis

Iliocostalis thoracis and lumborum

Semispinalis cervicis

Semispinalis Thoracis

Muscles of the Vertebral column

Deep muscles

Interspinalis
Intertransversales
Multifidus
Rotatores
Semispinalis cervicis and thoracis
Psoas minor
Quadratus lumborum

Interspinalis

Intertransversarius

Rotatores

Multifidus

Quadratus Lumborum

Quadratus Lumborum

Quadratus Lumborum
Origin:
Iliac crest (pelvis)

Insertion:
12th rib
Lumbar vertebrae (transverse processes)

Action:
Lateral flexion of the lumbar spine.
Also functions to stabilize the
pelvis/lumbar spine

Muscles of the abdomen

Rectus abdominis
External oblique
Internal oblique
Transverse abdominis

Rectus Abdominis:
Origin: pubis

(pubic
crest, symphysis pubis)

Insertion: sternum
and ribs (xiphoid
process, cartilage)

Actions:
Both=flexion,
compression
Single= lateral
flexion

Rectus Abdominis:

External Obliques:
Origin: ribs (lower 8)
Insertion: Iliac
crest, pubis,
inguinal ligament,
linea alba
Actions:
Both: flexion
Single: lateral
flexion, rotation

 External Oblique

 External oblique

Internal Obliques:
Origin: Iliac crest,
inguinal ligament
Insertion: ribs,
linea alba
Actions:
Both: flexion
Single: lateral
flexion, rotation

Internal Oblique

Internal oblique

Transverse Abdominis:
Origin:
Iliac crest,
cartilage of ribs

Insertion:
Pubis, linea alba

Action:
Compression,
forced expiration

Transverse Abdominis

Transverse abdominis

Muscles of the Thorax:

Used for respiration
Scalenes
Anterior, middle, and posterior
Elevates the first two ribs to increase thoracic
volume
Intercostals
External intercostals: expand the chest
Internal intercostals: forced expiration
Diaphram
Responsible for most of breathing movements

Scalenes (muscles in the neck)

Anterior Scalene
Middle Scalene
Posterior Scalene
These assist with respiration (elevates
upper ribs).
They also produce lateral flexion and
rotation at the cervical spine.

Anterior Scalene (lateral view)

Middle Scalene (anterior view)

Posterior Scalene (lateral view)

External Intercostals

Internal intercostals

Diaphram