+
Posterior muscles of the
neck
Dr.Muhammad Mustafa yousafzai
+
Different goups of muscles of back

Superficial

Inter mediate

Spinotransversales

Erector spinae

Transversospinales

Segmental back muscles

Suboccipital muscles
+
trapezius

O:superior nuchl line, external occipital
protruberance,ligamentum nuchae and spinous process of
C7 to T12.

I; lateral one third of clavical ,acromian and spine of scapula.

N; motor – accessory nerve 11

A; rotates the scapula while hoizontal abduction of humerus,
upper fibres elevate, middle fibres adduct,lower fibres
depress the scapula
+
Levator scapulae
 O; transverse
 I; upper
process of C1 to C4 ,
portion and medial border of
scapula
 N; C3
-4,and dorsal scapular nerve C4 C5
 A; elevates
the scapula
+
+
Intermediate group of muscles

Serratus posterior superior:

O:lower portion of ligamentum nuchae, spinous process of
C7-T3 and supraspinatous ligament

i:upper border of ribs 2nd to 5th just lateral to their angles

N: anterior rami of upper thoracis nerves T2-5

A:elevates the ribs 2-5
+
+
+
Spinotransversale muscles
 Splenius
capitis
 O: arises
on the ligamentum nuchae and spinous
processes of C7 to T3
 I:
attaches under the lateral part of the superior nuchal
line of the occiput and on the mastoid process of the
temporal bone.
 N: posterior
rami middle cervical nerves
 Splenius
cervicis arises on the spinous processes of T3
to T6 and attach on the posterior tubercles of the
transverse process C1 to T3.
 N;posterior
rami lower cervical nerves.
+
 Splenius
capitis and splenius cervicis lie deep to
sternocleidomastoid, trapezius and the rhomboids
and superficial to the segmental muscles,
interspinales, intertransversarii and
transversospinalis.
 Nerve
supply: Cervical spinal nerves.
Actions:Splenius capitis and splenius cervicis
contracting bilaterally extend the head and neck,
contracting unilaterally they sidebend and slightly
ipsilaterally rotate the head and neck.
+
+
Erector spinae
 Iliocostalis
cervicis arises on the superior
border of the angles of ribs 3 to 6 . It attaches on
the posterior tubercles of the transverse process of
C4 to C6.
 Longissimus
cervicis arises on the transverse
processes of T1 to T5 medial to longissimus
thoracis and attaches to the posterior tubercles of
the transverse processes of C2 to C6.
+

Spinalis cervicis arises on the spinous processes of C7 to T2
and the ligamentum nuchae. It attaches on the spinous
processes of C2 to C4. It exhibits variation in its attachments
and may be absent.

Cervical spinous processes may be bifid. C2 and C7
(vertebra prominens) are easily palpable. C6 is usually
palpable but disappears in extension. Articular pillars and
facet joints are at finger width spacings.
+
+
Transversospinales
 Semispinalis
thoracis arises on the transverse
processes of T6 to T10 and attaches on the spinous
processes of C6 to T4. More tendon in form.
 Semispinalis
cervicis arises on the transverse
processes of T1 to T6 and attaches on the spinous
processes of C2 to C5. More muscular especially
the fibres that attach on the axis.
.
+
+
 Semispinalis
capitis arises on the transverse
processes of C7 to T6 and the articular processes
of C4 to C6 (sometimes C7 & T1) and attaches
either side of the mid-sagittal line between the
superior and inferior nuchal lines on the occiput.
 Nerve
supply: Dorsal rami of cervical and thoracic
nerves. Action: Extension of the head and cervical
spine
+
+

Multifidus arise on the sacrum (S4), aponeurosis of the
erector spinae, posterior superior iliac spine, posterior
sacro-iliac ligament, mamillary processes of L1 to L5,
transverse processes of T1 to T12 and articular processes of
C4 to C7. The muscle attaches along the length of a spinous
process one to four vetebral segments above.

Nerve supply: Dorsal rami of the spinal nerves.

Rotatores are the deepest muscles. They arise on cervical,
thoracic and lumbar transverse processes and attach on the
lamina and base of the spinous process of the vertebra
above. Nerve supply: Dorsal rami of the spinal nerves.
+
+
Segmental back muscles

Interspinales run from one spinous process to the spinous
process above. They are present between C2 and T3, and
between T11 and L5. They are more distinct in the cervical
spine. Sometimes they occur between L5 and the sacrum.

Nerve supply:Dorsal rami of the spinal nerves.
+

Intertransversarii run from a transverse process to the
transverse process above. They are present between C1 and
T1, and between T10 and the sacrum. In the cervical and
lumbar, pairs of muscles lie either side of the spine.

Nerve supply: Dorsal and ventral rami of the spinal nerves.
+
+
+
ROTATORES

The rotatores (rotatores spinae) muscles lie beneath
the multifidus and are present in all spinal regions but most
prominent in thethoracic region; they are eleven in number
on either side.

O; from the superior and posterior part of the transverse
process.

I; inserted into the lower border and lateral surface of
the lamina of the vertebra above, the fibers extending as far
as the root of the spinous process.

N; POSTERIOR RAMI
+
+
Suboccipital muscles

Rectus capitus posterior major:

O: spinous process of axis

I: lateral portion of occipital bone below inferior nuchal line

N: posterior ramus of C1 ,same for all suboccipital muscles

A: extension of head and rotation of head towards the same
side
+

Rectus capitis posterior minor:

O:posterior tubercle of atlas

i: medial portion of occipital bone below inferior nuchal line

A: extension of head
+

Obliquus capitis superior:

O: transverse proces of atlas

I: occipital bone between superior and inferior nuchal line

A: extension of head and rotation towards the same side
+

Obliqqus capitus inferior:

O:spinous process of axis

I: transverse process of atlas

A: rotation of face towards the same side
+
+