Transversospinales
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Description[edit | edit source]
Transversospinales muscle group is a deep group of back muscles that lies deep to the erector spinae. It consists of 3 major subgroups: semispinalis, mulifidus and rotatores.
The transversospinales muscles group runs obliquely and medially from the transverse process of the vertebra below to the spinous process, filling the groove on either side of the spinous process.[1]
Semispinalis [edit | edit source]
They are the most superficial of the transversospinales muscle group. Its attachment sites are the thoracic vertebrae (semispinalis thoracis), cervical vertebrae (semispinalis cervicis) and occipital bone at the base of the skull (semispinalis capitis). It originates from the transverse process and crosses between 4 and 6 vertebra to attach in the spinous process.[1]
Multifidus[edit | edit source]
Multifidus muscle lies deep to the semispinalis and spans the whole length of the vertebral column, it is most developed in the lumbar region.It originates from the transverse process and crosses between 2 and 4 vertebra to attach in the spinous process.[1]
Rotatores[edit | edit source]
Rotatores muscle lies deep to the multifidus and spans the whole length of the vertebral column, it is most developed in the thoracic region. It consists of 2 part long and short rotatores.
Long rotatores passes from the transverse process medially to the spinous process, crossing 2 vertebrae, while short rotatores passes from the transverse process and inserts in the adjacent spinout process at the same level.
Its attachment sites are the lumbar vertebrae (rotatores lumborum), thoracic vertebrae (rotatores thoracis) and cervical vertebrae (rotatores cervicis).[1]
| Muscle | Origin | Insertion |
|---|---|---|
| Semispinalis thoracis | Transverse process of T6 to T10 | Spinous process of T1 to T4 and C6,C7 |
| Semispinalis cervicis | Transverse process of upper 4-6 thoracic vertebrae | Spinous process of C2 to C5 |
| Semispinalis capitis | Transverse process of T1 to T6 or T7 and C7
Articular process of C4 to C6 |
Base of the skull, at the occipital bone medially between the inferior
superior nuchal lines |
| Multifidus | Posterior sacrum, origin of erector spinae, posterior superior iliac spine, mammillary process of lumbar vertebrae,
transverse process of thoracic vertebrae and articular process of lower cervical vertebra C4-C7. |
Base of spinous process of all vertebrae from L5 to C2 |
| Rotatores lumborum | Transverse process of lumbar vertebrae | Spinous process of lumbar vertebrae |
| Rotatores thoracis | Transverse process of thoracic vertebrae | Spinous process of thoracic vertebrae |
| Rotatores cervicis | Transverse process of cervical vertebrae | Spinous process of cervical vertebrae |
Action[edit | edit source]
The transversospinales muscles group share the the same action, bilateral contraction extends the spine and unilateral contraction rotates the vertebral column to the opposite side.
With the exception of the semispinalis capitis, bilateral contraction pulls the head posteriorly and unilateral contraction pulls the head posteriorly and rotates the chin to the same side of the contracting muscle.[1]
Nerve Supply[edit | edit source]
The transversospinales muscles group share the same nerve supply from the dorsal rami of the spinal nerves.[1]
Blood Supply[edit | edit source]
Branches of the vertebral, deep cervical, occipital, transverse cervical, posterior intercostal, subcostal, lumbar and lateral sacral arteries.[1]
