Human Back Muscle AnatomyAnatomical Atlas
anatomical atlas
The back muscles (musculi dorsi) are arranged in several layers and are divided into superficial muscles and deep muscles.
Fig.1: Superficial back muscles
Fig.2: Superficial and deep back muscles
Superficial Back Muscles
The superficial back muscles are also divided into two groups.
- 1. Back muscles attached to the shoulder girdle.
- The trapezius muscle (m. trapezius), the latissimus dorsi muscle (m. latissimus dorsi), the rhomboid major and minor muscles (mm. rhomboidei major et minor), the levator scapulae muscle (m. levator scapulae).
- 2. Back muscles attached to the ribs.
- The superior posterior serratus muscle (m. serratus posterior superior), the inferior posterior serratus muscle (m. serratus posterior inferior).
The occasional transverse muscle of the neck (m. transversus núchae) is also included among the superficial back muscles. This muscle originates from the external occipital protuberance and attaches to the tendon of the sternocleidomastoid muscle. It may also attach to the occipital fascia and subcutaneous muscle of the neck. Function: stretches the fascia and skin of the occipital region.
Deep Back Muscles
The deep back muscles are located between the spinous and transverse processes of the vertebrae, as well as between the transverse processes of the vertebrae and the angles of the ribs.
The deep back muscles are arranged in three layers.
- 1. Muscles of the superficial layer.
- The splenius capitis muscle (m. splenius capitis), the splenius cervicis muscle (m. splenius cervicis), the erector spinae muscle (m. erector spinae).
- 2. Muscles of the middle layer.
- The middle layer consists of a group of transversospinal muscles (mm. transversospinales): the semispinalis muscle (m. semispinalis), the multifidus muscles (mm. multifidi), the rotatores muscles (mm. rotatores).
- 3. Muscles of the deep layer.
- The interspinal muscles (mm. interspinales), the intertransverse muscles (mm. intertransversarii).
