Summary
The back comprises the dorsal part of the neck and the torso (dorsal body cavity) from the occipital bone to the top of the tailbone. The muscles of the back can be divided in three main groups according to their anatomical position and function. The superficial muscles participate in the movements of the upper limb, the intermediate muscles support the respiratory function, and the deep muscles are involved in the posture and rotation of the vertebral column. The first two groups include the extrinsic muscles, which are innervated by the anterior branches of the spinal nerves, while intrinsic muscles of the latter group are innervated by the posterior branches. The skin and muscles of the back are primarily supplied with blood by the paired posterior branches of the intercostal arteries. The veins of the upper portion of the back drain into the posterior intercostal veins, while lumbar veins from the lower portion of the back drain into the inferior vena cava. Similarly, the intercostal lymph nodes receive drainage from the thoracic portion of the back, while the inguinal lymph nodes drain from the lumbar back.
The organs, blood vessels, lymphatic vessels, and nerve pathways of the neck (see overview of head and neck region), the spinal cord, and the vertebral column (the spine) are covered in their own articles.
Overview of the muscles of the spine
Intrinsic muscles | Extrinsic muscles | |
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Examples |
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Innervation |
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Function |
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Intrinsic suboccipital muscles
- Consist of:
- See suboccipital muscles in the article “Overview of the head and neck region” for more details.
Extrinsic suboccipital muscles
The extrinsic suboccipital muscles include rectus capitis lateralis and rectus capitis anterior muscles, which are prevertebral muscles of the neck. See prevertebral muscles in the article “Overview of the head and neck region” for more details.
Superficial back muscles
Superficial back muscles are the first layer of muscles below the skin and superficial fascia. These muscles connect the clavicula, scapula, and humerus to the axial skeleton, and the main function is related to the movement of the upper limb. They are also covered in relation to the shoulder and shoulder girdle in the article “Shoulder, axilla, and brachial plexus.” The latissimus dorsi is covered in the article on the “Chest wall” as well.
Muscle | Origin | Insertion | Function | Innervation | ||
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Trapezius | Descending (upper) portion |
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Transverse portion |
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Ascending (lower) portion |
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Levator scapulae |
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Latissimus dorsi |
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Rhomboid major |
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Rhomboid minor |
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Intermediate back muscles
Two muscles (the serratus posterior superior and inferior) belong to the intermediate group of back muscles. They are immediately deep to the muscles in the superficial group and pass obliquely outward from the vertebral column to attach to the ribs. These muscles support the respiratory function and are also covered under chest wall muscles in the “Chest” article.
Muscle | Origin | Insertion | Function | Innervation |
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Serratus posterior superior |
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Serratus posterior inferior |
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Deep back muscles
The intrinsic back muscles are divided based on their function in four groups.
- Spinotransverse system: the extensors and rotators of the head and neck
- Sacrospinal system (erector spinae): the extensors and rotators of the vertebral column
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Transversospinal system
- Short rotatores
- Long rotatores
- Multifidus
- Semispinalis
- Segmental muscles
Spinotransverse system
Muscle | Origin | Insertion | Function | Innervation | |
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Splenius capitis |
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Splenius cervicis |
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Erector spinae (sacrospinal system)
Muscle | Origin | Insertion | Function | Innervation | |
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Iliocostalis | Cervicis (cervicalis ascendens) |
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Dorsi (thoracis) |
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Lumborum (iliocostalis muscle; sacrolumbalis muscle) |
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Longissimus | Capitis (trachelomastoid muscle) |
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Cervicis (transversalis cervicis) |
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Thoracis and lumborum |
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Spinalis | Capitis |
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Cervicis |
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Dorsi |
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Transversospinal system
Muscle | Origin | Insertion | Function | Innervation | |
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Rotatores | Short |
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Long |
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Multifidus | Cervical |
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Thoracic |
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Semispinalis | Thoracis |
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Cervicis |
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Capitis |
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Segmental muscles
Muscle | Origin | Insertion | Function | Innervation | ||
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Levatores costarum |
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Interspinales | Cervical |
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Thoracic |
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Lumbar |
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Intertransversarii muscles | Anterior intertransversarii (cervical) |
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Lateral lumbar intertransversarii |
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Posterior intertransversarii |
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Thoracic intertransversarii |
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Medial lumbar intertransversarii |
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The interspinales muscles skip one vertebral segment, the spinalis muscles skip multiple segments!
Vasculature and lymphatics
Vascular supply
Neck
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Venous | Superficial |
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- See Arteries and Veins in “Overview of the head and neck region” for more details.
Back
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Arterial |
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Venous |
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Vertebral body
- See the “Vasculature and lymphatics” in the Vertebral column article.
Lymphatics
Cross through | Drain into | |
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Thoracic spine (cranial) |
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Lumbar spine (caudal) |
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