Erector Spinae

Introduction[edit | edit source]

Erector spinae.png

The erector spinae muscle, also known as sacrospinalis and extensor spinae in some texts is from the deep muscles of the back. It lies superficial to the transversospinales muscle group and deep to the intermediate group of back muscles (serratus posterior superior and inferior).[1][2]

The erector spinae muscle extends the vertebreal column. [1] It is formed of 3 muscles and its fibers run more or less vertically throughout the lumbar, thoracic and cervical regions. It lies in the groove to the side of the vertebral column. In cervical region it is covered by nuchal ligament and in thoracic and lumber region by thoracolumbar fascia.

It is made up of 3 muscles:

  • Medially by Spinalis
  • Centerally by Longissimus
  • Laterally by Illiocostalis


Each of these have 3 parts further.

SPINALIS
LONGISSIMUS
ILLIOCOSTALIS
spinalis capitis
longissimus capitis
illiocostalis cervicis
spinalis cervicis
longissimus cervicis
illiocostalis thoracis
spinalis thoracis
longissimus thoracis
illiocostalis lumborum


Anatomy[edit | edit source]

Spinalis[edit | edit source]

Is the most medial part just next to the spine. It connects the spinous process of the adjacent vertebrae to each other.[2]

It is divided into 3 parts:[3]

Muscle Origin Insertion
Spinalis capitis Usually blends with semispinalis capitis With semispinalis capitis
Spinalis cervicis Spinous process of C7 (sometimes T1 to T2) and ligmentum nuchae Spinous process of C2 and C3-C4
Spinalis thoracis Spinous process of T11 to L2 Spinous process of upper thoracic vertebrae

Longissimus[edit | edit source]

It forms the middle part of the erector spinae muscles, lateral to the spinalis. The longissimus muscle forms the main meat of the erector group. It attaches along the transverse process of the vertebrae.[2]

It is divided into 3 parts:[2][3]

Muscle Origin Insertion
Longissimus capitis C4-T4 transverse process Posterior edge of the mastoid process
Longissimus cervicis T1-T4 transverse process C2 to C6 transverse process
Longissimus thoracis Transverse process of lumbar vertebra and blends with iliocostalis in the lumbar region Transverse process of all thoracic vertebrae

Iliocostalis[edit | edit source]

Is is the most lateral part of the erector spinae muscles. It attaches to the ribs.[2] Because of it's lateral position, a tight iliocostalis can bring a hip up, or bring the ribcage down toward the hip.

It is divided into 3 parts:[3]

Muscle Origin Insertion
Iliocostalis cervicis Angle of ribs 3-6 Transverse process of C4-C6
Iliocostalis thoracis Angle of lower six ribs Angles of upper six ribs and transverse process of C7
Iliocostalis lumborum Iliac crest L1-L4 lumbar transverse processes, angle of 4-12 ribs and thoracolumbar fascia

Action[edit | edit source]

Bilateral contraction they straighten the back and pull the head posteriorly and they are involved in the control the flexion of the vertebral coloumn.

Unilateral contraction bends the the vertbral column laterally and turns the head towards the contracting side.[2]

Nerve Supply[edit | edit source]

Doral rami of spinal nerves.[3]

Blood Supply[edit | edit source]

Branches of the vertebral, deep cervical, occipital, transverse cervical, posterior intercostal, subcostal, lumbar and lateral sacral arteries.[2]

[4]
[5]

Erector Spinae Muscle and Low Back Pain [edit | edit source]

The erector spinae muscle plays an important role in the spinal stability.

In patients with low back pain there is decreased activity and atrophy of the multifidus muscle which compromises the spinal stability. The spinal control is compensated for by the increased activity of the erector spinae muscle to stabilize the lumbar spine.  

The increased activity of erector spinae increases the compression load on the vertebral column, stimulating the nociceptors of the spinal structures continuously which may increases the risk of injury.[6]

The relationship between Erector spinae muscle cross section area and low back pain is inconclusive, some studies found decrease in the erector spinae muscle mass with low back pain while others found no relation.[7]

Muscle Testing[edit | edit source]

[8]






Function and Training[edit | edit source]

[9]

Erector Spinae Flexion-Relaxation Phenomenon[edit | edit source]

The flexion-relaxation phenomenon is defined as silencing of the erector spinae myoelectric activity during full trunk flexion.

In healthy individuals with no low back pain, the erector spinae muscle relaxes in the range from upright position to full-flexion lumbar, due to the deep back muscles (multifidus) acting to stabilize the lumbar spine.

While in individuals with low back pain the erector spinae flexion-relaxation phenomenon is absent as the erector spinae functions to stabilize the lumbar spine due to laxity of the passive structures and changes in the neuromuscular activation pattern.

Lumbar stabilization exercise can restore the erector spinae flexion-relaxation phenomenon by strengthening the multifidus muscle.

However, even in individuals with no low back pain there can be asymmetric trunk flexion (combined with rotation or side bending) leading to asymmetric Flexion relaxation phenomenon in the right and left erector spinae due to factors like repeated asymmetric posture and activities.

Asymmetry in the flexion relaxation phenomenon increases the risk of low back pain. Which could also be corrected by lumbar stabilization exercise.[10]

Myofascial release of the erector spinae muscles in patients with non specific chronic low back pain normalized the flexion-relaxation response and decreased low back pain.[11]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. 1.0 1.1 Terminologia Anatomica, 1999.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 Drake R, Vogl AW, Mitchell AW. Gray's Anatomy for Students E-Book. Elsevier Health Sciences; 2009 Apr 4.
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Henson B, Edens MA. Anatomy, Back, Muscles. InStatPearls [Internet] 2018 Dec 23. StatPearls Publishing.
  4. Anatomy Tutorials. Intrinsic back muscles - 3D anatomy tutorial. Available from: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLugy7OjSb4 [last accessed 26/03/14]
  5. FitnessEduAu. Posterior Muscles (Erector spinae). Available from: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v3-uaBBISXk [last accessed 26/03/14]
  6. Mazis N. Does a history of non specific low back pain influence electromyographic activity of the erector spinae muscle group during functional movements. J. Nov. Physiother. 2014;4:226.
  7. Ranger TA, Cicuttini FM, Jensen TS, Peiris WL, Hussain SM, Fairley J, Urquhart DM. Are the size and composition of the paraspinal muscles associated with low back pain? A systematic review. The spine journal. 2017 Nov 1;17(11):1729-48.
  8. Sheena Livingstone. Erector Spinae Muscle Test. Available from: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pfbm_-fgylo [last accessed 26/03/14]
  9. 3StrongVideos. Function and Training of the Erector Spinae Muscles - Coach. Available from: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l9XwHX3ma5A [last accessed 26/03/14]
  10. Park SS, Choi BR. Effects of lumbar stabilization exercises on the flexion-relaxation phenomenon of the erector spinae. Journal of physical therapy science. 2016;28(6):1709-11.
  11. Arguisuelas MD, Lison JF, Domenech-Fernandez J, Martinez-Hurtado I, Coloma PS, Sanchez-Zuriaga D. Effects of myofascial release in erector spinae myoelectric activity and lumbar spine kinematics in non-specific chronic low back pain: randomized controlled trial. Clinical Biomechanics. 2019 Mar 1;63:27-33.