Proximal Attachment Distal attachment Innervation Action
Trapezius Medial third of superior nuchal line, Lateral third of clavicle, Spinal accessory Descending (upper) portion
external occipital protuberance, acromion, spine of scapula nerve (CN XI), C3, elevates, ascending (lower)
nuchal ligament, spinous process of C4 Spinal Nerves portion depresses, middle
C7-T12 Vertebrae portion retracts scapula,
descending and ascending
parts together rotate glenoid
cavity superiorly
Latissimus Dorsi Spinous process T7-T12, Floor or intertubercular sulcus of Thoracodorsal Extends, adducts, and medially
thoracolumbar fascia, iliac crest, humerus (bicipital groove) nerve (C6, C7, rotates humerus, raises body
and inferior 3 or 4 ribs C8) toward arms in climbing
Levator Scapulae posterior tubercles of transverse Medial border of scapula Dorsal Scapular Elevates scapula, rotates
processes of C1-C4 Vertebrae superior to root of scapular (C4, C5) and glenoid cavity inferiorly (via
spine cervical (C3, C4) rotation of scapula), Ipsilateral
side bending
Rhomboid Major Spinous Processes of T2-T5 Medial border of scapula from Dorsal Scapular Retract scapula, rotate glenoid
level of spine to inferior angle Nerve (C4, C5) cavity inferiorly, fix scapula to
thoracic wall
Rhomboid Minor Nuchal ligament, spinous processes Smooth triangular area at Dorsal Scapular Retract scapula, rotate glenoid
of C7 & T1 medial end of scapular spine Nerve (C4, C5) cavity inferiorly, fix scapula to
thoracic wall
Splenius (Capitis Capitis: nuchal lig and s.p. of C7-T3 Fibers run superolaterally Posterior rami of Unilaterally lateral flexion of the
and Cervicis) Cervicis: nuchal lig and s.p. of C7- Capitis: mastoid process of spinal nerves neck and same side rotation
T6 temporal bone and lateral third (Spinal Nerve C1- and Bilaterally extends cervical
of superior nuchal line of C6) spine and head
occipital bone
cervicis: post tub of t.p. C1-C3
Serratus Posterior Nuchal ligament, spinous processes Superior borders of 2nd - 4th 2nd - 5th Proprioception & elevates ribs
Superior of C7 - T3 Vertebrae ribs intercostal nerves
Serratus Posterior Spinous processes of T11-L2 Lateral inferior margins of 8th - Anterior Rami (T9- Proprioception & depresses ribs
Inferior vertebrae 12th ribs T12)
Semispinalis Arises from Transverse process of Posterior rami of Extends head and thoracic and
(Capitis, Cervicis, C4 - T12 vertebrae Thoracis, Cervicis, Capitis; spinal nerves cervical regions of vertebral
Thoracis) fibers run superomedially to column and rotates them
occipital bone and spinous contralaterally
processes in thoracic and
cervical regions, spanning 4-6
Trapezius Medial third of superior nuchal line, Lateral third of clavicle, Spinal accessory Descending (upper) portion
external occipital protuberance, acromion, spine of scapula nerve (CN XI), C3, elevates, ascending (lower)
nuchal ligament, spinous process of C4 Spinal Nerves portion depresses, middle
C7-T12 Vertebrae portion retracts scapula,
descending and ascending
parts together rotate glenoid
cavity superiorly
Latissimus Dorsi Spinous process T7-T12, Floor or intertubercular sulcus of Thoracodorsal Extends, adducts, and medially
thoracolumbar fascia, iliac crest, humerus (bicipital groove) nerve (C6, C7, rotates humerus, raises body
and inferior 3 or 4 ribs C8) toward arms in climbing
Levator Scapulae posterior tubercles of transverse Medial border of scapula Dorsal Scapular Elevates scapula, rotates
processes of C1-C4 Vertebrae superior to root of scapular (C4, C5) and glenoid cavity inferiorly (via
spine cervical (C3, C4) rotation of scapula), Ipsilateral
side bending
Rhomboid Major Spinous Processes of T2-T5 Medial border of scapula from Dorsal Scapular Retract scapula, rotate glenoid
level of spine to inferior angle Nerve (C4, C5) cavity inferiorly, fix scapula to
thoracic wall
Rhomboid Minor Nuchal ligament, spinous processes Smooth triangular area at Dorsal Scapular Retract scapula, rotate glenoid
of C7 & T1 medial end of scapular spine Nerve (C4, C5) cavity inferiorly, fix scapula to
thoracic wall
Splenius (Capitis Capitis: nuchal lig and s.p. of C7-T3 Fibers run superolaterally Posterior rami of Unilaterally lateral flexion of the
and Cervicis) Cervicis: nuchal lig and s.p. of C7- Capitis: mastoid process of spinal nerves neck and same side rotation
T6 temporal bone and lateral third (Spinal Nerve C1- and Bilaterally extends cervical
of superior nuchal line of C6) spine and head
occipital bone
cervicis: post tub of t.p. C1-C3
Serratus Posterior Nuchal ligament, spinous processes Superior borders of 2nd - 4th 2nd - 5th Proprioception & elevates ribs
Superior of C7 - T3 Vertebrae ribs intercostal nerves
Serratus Posterior Spinous processes of T11-L2 Lateral inferior margins of 8th - Anterior Rami (T9- Proprioception & depresses ribs
Inferior vertebrae 12th ribs T12)
Semispinalis Arises from Transverse process of Posterior rami of Extends head and thoracic and
(Capitis, Cervicis, C4 - T12 vertebrae Thoracis, Cervicis, Capitis; spinal nerves cervical regions of vertebral
Thoracis) fibers run superomedially to column and rotates them
occipital bone and spinous contralaterally
processes in thoracic and
cervical regions, spanning 4-6
