Back Muscles

Original Editor - Lucinda hampton

Top Contributors - Lucinda hampton and Kim Jackson  

Introduction

There are three major groups of back muscles:

1. Superficial: attached to the shoulder girdle
2. Intermediate: attached to the posterior thorax
3. Deep: attached to the vertebral column, also known as the intrinsic muscle group

These groups serve to allow: flexion/extension, rotation, and side bending of the back; movement of the limbs; locomotor function; and assistance in the respiratory effort.

Generalized back pain is a common presenting symptom for patients. The underlying etiology of the pain commonly traces to a strain of the skeletal muscle.

Additional terminology

1. The superficial and intermediate muscle groups (or extrinsic muscles) are also called immigrant muscles, since they actually represent muscles of the upper limb that have migrated to the back during fetal development.
2. The deep/intrinsic back muscles, are also called true back muscles. They are located deep to the extrinsic muscles, being separated from them by the thoracolumbar fascia.

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The first category is the superficial, or extrinsic, back muscles. These muscles are located posteriorly on the back, but they assist in the movement of the limbs. The superficial muscles include:

• Trapezius
• Latissimus dorsi
• Levator scapulae
• Rhomboids

Intermediate Muscles

The intermediate group contains two muscles:

• Serratus posterior superior
• Serratus posterior inferior.

These muscles run from the vertebral column to the ribcage, and assist with elevating and depressing the ribs. They are thought to have a slight respiratory function.

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