Sternocleidomastoid (SCM)

Two headed-muscle, the key muscular landmark in neck

Superior attachment: mastoid process of temporal bone and
superior nuchal line of occipital bone

MUSCLES OF THE HEAD

AND THE TRUNK

Inferior attachment:

sternal head: anterior surface of manubrium of sternum

Clavicular head: superior surface of medial third of clavicle
Main action:

Acting unilaterally, laterally flexes and

rotates the head and neck so the ear
approaches the shoulder of the same
side

Acting bilaterally, flex the neck

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DEEP OR INTRINSIC BACK MUSCLES

Common points

thoracolumbar fascia
is an extensive fascial
sheet that splits into
anterior and posterior
layers, enclosing the
deep back muscles.

extend from the pelvis to the skull

specifically act on the vertebral
column, maintain posture and
produce movements of vertebral
column
enclosed by fascia
Innervated by posterior rami of
spinal nerves

Intermediate layer - Erector Spinae

(Sacrospinalis)

Superficial layer - Splenius Muscles

the chief extensor of vertebral column,

divides into three columns

Cover and hold the deep vertical muscles in position

Origin: arises from nuchal ligament and
spinous processes of C7 T3 or T4 vertebrae

Insertion:

Splenius capitis: mastoid process of

temporal bone and lateral third of superior
nuchal line of occipital bone

Splenius cervicis: transverse process of

C1 C3 or C4 vertebrae
Main action:

acting alone, laterally flex and rotate head

to the side of active muscles

acting together, extend head and neck

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Intermediate layer - Erector Spinae

(Sacrospinalis)

Iliocostalis: Lateral column

Longissimus: Intermediate column
Spinalis: Medial column
Each column is divided regionally into
cervicis, thoracis, lumborum according to
its superior attachment

Common origin: arises by a broad tendon

from posterior part of iliac crest, posterior
surface of sacrum, sacral and inferior
lumbar spinous processes, and supro-iliac
ligament

Iliac crest

Intermediate layer - Erector Spinae

(Sacrospinalis)

Insertion:

Main action: powerful trunk extensor

Iliocostalis: fibers run superiorly to ribs and cervical

transverse processes

acting bilaterally, they extend vertebral column

and head, as back is flexed they control
movement by gradually lengthening their fibers

Longissimus: to ribs between tubercles and angles, to

transverse processes in thoracic and cervical regions, and
to mastoid process of temporal bone

Spinalis: to

Acting unilaterally, they laterally flex vertebral

spinous processes
in the upper
thoracic region and
to skull

column

Deep Layer Transversospinal Muscle Group

Semispinalis
Origin: arises from transverse
processes of C4 T12 vertebrae

Three muscles

Semispinalis superficial
Multifidus deeper
Rotatores deepest

Insertion:
fibers run superomedially to occipital
bone and spinous processes in
thoracic and cervical regions,
spanning 4 6 segments

Common feature:

they originate from transverse

processes of vertebrae to
spinous processes of more
superior vertebrae.

Main action:

They occupy the space

extend head and thoracic and cervical

regions of vertebral column and rotate
them contralaterally

between transverse and

spinous processes
Transverse section of back
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Rotatores

Multifidus
Origin: arises from posterior aspects of
sacrum and ilium, transverse processes of
thoracic and lumbar vertebrae, and articular
processes of the C4 - C7

Origin: transverse processes of

vertebrae
Insertion: pass superomedially to attach
to the root of the spinous processes of
the next one or two vertebrae superiorly,
spanning 1 - 2 segments

Insertion:
fibers pass superomedially to entire length of
spinous processes of vertebrae above,
spanning 2 - 4 segments

Main action:

as proprieception organs

Main action:

stabilize vertebrae and assists with

stabilizes vertebrae during local

local extension and rotary

movements of vertebral column

movements of vertebral column

Unilateral contraction rotates to

contralateral side

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MUSCLES IN THORACIC WALL:

Intercostal Muscles

Minor Deep Layer

occupy the intercostal spaces

interspinal muscles connect spinous

processes. They aid in extension and rotation

Superior layer: external intercostal

Middle layer: internal intercostal
Deepest layer: innermost intercostal

intertransverse muscles connect transverse

processes. They aid in lateral flexion, and
stabilize vertebral column when acting
bilaterally

Superior attachment: inferior border of ribs

Inferior attachment: superior border of ribs below

Levatores costarum elevate ribs, assisting

inspiration and lateral flexion of vertebral
column

Main action

Elevate ribs: external intercostal

and probably innermost
intercostal

depress ribs: internal intercostal

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External and Internal Intercostal Muscles

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Innermost Intercostal Muscles

The muscle fibers run from inferior border of

ribs to superior border of ribs below

Similar to the internal intercostal in fibers running direction

and are deep parts of them

External intercostal are continuous inferiorly

with the external oblique muscles in the
anterolateral abdominal wall

The innermost intercostal muscles are separated from the

internal intercostal by the intercostal nerves and vessels

Internal intercostal run deep to and at right

angles to the external intercostal and
continuous with the internal oblique muscles in
the anterolateral abdominal wall

external
intercostal

Action:

External intercostal
inspiration, elevate ribs

Internal
intercostal

Internal intercostal
expiration, depress ribs

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External & Internal Oblique Muscle

MUSCLES OF ABODOMINAL WALL

ANTERIOLATERAL WALL
Three flat muscles, external oblique, internal oblique, and
transverse abdominal

Eternal Oblique

All three flat muscles end anteriorly

in strong aponeurosis. The
aponeuroses of these muscles
interlace at the linea alba
Linea alba (white line) is the fibrous
band running vertically from the
pubic symphysis to the xiphoid
process and is the central
attachment for all the abdominal
muscles

Common actions: compress and support abdominal

viscera, flex and rotates trunk

The largest and most

superficial muscle
Linea
alba

Origin: external
surfaces of 5th-12th ribs
Insertion: linea alba,
pubic tubercle, and
anterior half of iliac
crest

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Internal Oblique
The intermediate muscle
Origin: thoracolumbar
fascia, anterior two-thirds
of iliac crest and lateral
half of inquinal ligament
Insertion: The fibbers fan
out anteromedially and
insert to inferior borders
of 10th 12th ribs, linea
alba, and pubis via
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conjoint tendon

Transverse Abdominal Muscle

The innermost of the three flat
abdominal muscles
Origin: internal surfaces of 7th 12th
costal cartilages, thoracolumbar
fascia, iliac crest, and lateral third of
inquinal ligament
Insertion: linea alba with
aponeurosis of internal oblique,
superior ramus of pubis
Main action: Compress and support
abdominal viscera
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MUSCLES OF ABODOMINAL WALL

ANTERIOLATERAL WALL

Rectus Abdominis Muscle

Two vertical muscles, rectus abdominis

and pyramidalis

Origin: pubic symphysis and

pubic crest

All two vertical muscles are within the

rectus sheath that is the strong,
incomplete fibrous compartment of the
two vertical muscle. It is formed by the
decussation and interweaving of the
aponeuroses of the flat abdominal
muscles

Insertion: Xiphoid process and

5th 7th costal cartilages
Most of the rectus abdominis is
enclosed in the rectus sheath.
Tendinous intersections (3 or
more) anchor the rectus
abdominis transversely

Tendinous
intersection

The rectus muscle is anchored by

attachment to rectus sheath at tendinous
intersections
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Main action: flexes trunk

(lumbar vertebrae), compresses
abdominal viscera, and
stabilizes and controls tilt of
pelvis

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MUSCLES OF ABODOMINAL WALL POSTERIOR

WALL -Quadratus lumborum,)

Functions and actions of the anterolateral

abdominal muscles
Form a strong expendable support for the
anterolateral abdominal wall

Origin: medial half of inferior

border of 12th rib and tips of
lumbar transverse processes

Protect the abdominal viscera from injury

Insertion: Iliolumbar ligament

and iliac crest

Compress the abdominal contents

Help to maintain or increase the intra-abdominal
pressure, assisting expiration and producing the
force required for defecation, micturition (urination),
and parturition

Main action: extends and

laterally flexes vertebral
column; fixes 12th rib during
respiration

Move the trunk. Flex vertebral column, bend

vertebral column laterally, rotate vertebral column,
and help to maintain posture
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Pubic crest

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Principle Muscles Producing Movement of

Cervical Intervertebral joints

Diaphragm
A dome-shaped musculotendinous partition

Neck flexion
Sternocleidomastoid

separates the thoracic and abdominal cavities

the chief muscle of inspiration

Neck extension
Splenius
Semispinalis capitis
and cervicis
Multifidus
Longissimus capitis
trapezius

It is divided into three parts based on peripheral

attachment, a sternal part, a costal part, and a
lumbar part.

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Questions

Reading materials
Moore, KL, Essential Clinical
Anatomy (4th ed.)
Neck muscles: p. 596-599
Back muscles: p. 301-310
Muscles of thoracic wall,
p.60-61
Muscles of abdomen: p.118122

Lateral bending
Iliocostalis cervicis
Longiddimud csapitisand cervicis
Splenius
Intertraseversarii
Rotation
Rotatores
Multifidus
Semispinalis capitis and cervicis
Erector spinae
Splenius cervicis
sternocleidomastoid
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Moore, KL, Essential Clinical

Anatomy (5th ed.)

1. Use the following terms to describe the actions and

locations of back and abdominal muscles: origin,
insertion, agonist and antagonist.

Neck muscles: p. 585-586

2. Use the following terms to describe the action of head,

Back muscles: p. 295-303

back and abdominal muscles: flexor, extensor, lateral

flexor, and rotator.

Muscles of thoracic wall,

p.56-57
Muscles of abdomen: p.113115, p, 179, p, 184-185

3. Describe the locations and actions of the thoracic

muscles.

4. Describe the locations and actions of neck muscles.

5. Describe linea alba and rectus sheath.
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