Pilates Anatomy
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1. What is the origin and insertion of the Quadratus lumborum?: O: Posterior
Iliac Crest
I: 12th rib and 1st-4th lumbar vertebrae
2. What is the QL muscle used for?: Bilaterally: fix last rib during forced inhalation
Unilaterally: laterally tilt pelvis, laterally flex the vertebral column to the same side,
assist to extend vertebrae column
3. What is the origin and insertion of the diaphragm?: O: Costal attachment:
inner surface of lower six ribs, lumbar attachment: upper 2-3 lumbar vertebrae,
sternal attachment: inner part of xiphoid process
I: Central tendon
4. What does the diaphragm do?: Draw down the central tendon of the diaphragm,
increase the volume of thoracic cavity during inhalation
5. What is the origin and insertion of the transverse abdominis?: O: lateral
inguinal ligament, iliac crest, thoracolumbar fascia, and internal surface of lower six
ribs (iliac crest, 6-12th ribs, lateral inguinal ligament, thoracolumbar fascia)
I: abdominal aponeurosis to linea alba
6. What does the transverse abdominis do?: Compress abdominal contents
7. What is the origin and insertion of the trapezius?: O: Occipitals
I: Lateral clavicle, acromion, spine of scapula
8. What does the trapezius do?: Upper fibers - bilaterally: extend the head and
neck
Upper fibers - unilaterally: laterally flex the head and neck to same side, rotate the
head and neck to the opposite side, elevate the scapula, upwardly rotate the scapula
Middle fibers: adduct the scapula, stabilize the scapula
lower fibers: depress the scapula, upwardly rotate the scapula
9. What is the origin and insertion of the latissimus dorsi?: O: Inferior angle of
scapula, spinous processes of last 6 thoracic vertebrae, last 3 or 4 ribs, thoracolum-
bar aponeurosis and posterior iliac crest
I: intertubercular groove of humerus (superior humerus)
10. What does the latissimus dorsi do?: Extend the shoulder, adduct the shoul-
der, medially rotate the shoulder
1/9
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11. What is the origin and insertion of the levator scapulae?: O: C1-C4
I: Medial border of scapula, below superior angle of scapula
12. Where is the origin and insertion of the rhomboid major and minor?: Major
O: spinous processes of T12-T5
Minor O: spinous processes of C7-T1
Major I: inferior medial border of scapula
Minor I: superior medial border of scapula
13. What is the origin and insertion of the serratus anterior?: O: 1st-9th rib
I: anterior surface of medial border of scapula
14. What does the serratus anterior do?: with origin fixed: abduct the scapula,
upwardly rotate the scapula, hold the medial border of the scapula against the rib
cage
with scapula fixed: may act to elevate the thorax during forced inhalation
15. What is the origin and insertion of the external oblique?: O: external sur-
faces of 5th to 12th ribs
I: anterior iliac crest, linea alba
16. What does the external oblique do?: Unilaterally: laterally flex vertebral col-
umn to the same side, rotate vertebral column to the opposite side
Bilaterally: flex the vertebral column, compress the abdominal contents
17. What is the origin and insertion of the internal oblique?: O: iliac crest,
thoracolumbar fascia
I: 9th-12th ribs, linea alba
18. What do the internal obliques do?: Unilaterally: laterally flex vertebral column
to the same side, rotate vertebral column to the same side
Bilaterally: flex the vertebral column, compress abdominal contents
19. What is the origin and insertion of the rectus abdominis?: O: Public crest,
pubic symphysis
I: cartilage of 5th, 6th, and 7th ribs, xiphoid process
20. What do the rectus abdominis do?: flex the vertebral column, tilt pelvis pos-
teriorly
21. What is the origin and insertion of the supraspinatus?: O: posterior superior
surface of scapula
I: tubercle of the humerus
22. What does the supraspinatus do?: Abduct the shoulder, stabilize the head of
the humerous in glenoid cavity
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1. What is the origin and insertion of the Quadratus lumborum?: O: Posterior
Iliac Crest
I: 12th rib and 1st-4th lumbar vertebrae
2. What is the QL muscle used for?: Bilaterally: fix last rib during forced inhalation
Unilaterally: laterally tilt pelvis, laterally flex the vertebral column to the same side,
assist to extend vertebrae column
3. What is the origin and insertion of the diaphragm?: O: Costal attachment:
inner surface of lower six ribs, lumbar attachment: upper 2-3 lumbar vertebrae,
sternal attachment: inner part of xiphoid process
I: Central tendon
4. What does the diaphragm do?: Draw down the central tendon of the diaphragm,
increase the volume of thoracic cavity during inhalation
5. What is the origin and insertion of the transverse abdominis?: O: lateral
inguinal ligament, iliac crest, thoracolumbar fascia, and internal surface of lower six
ribs (iliac crest, 6-12th ribs, lateral inguinal ligament, thoracolumbar fascia)
I: abdominal aponeurosis to linea alba
6. What does the transverse abdominis do?: Compress abdominal contents
7. What is the origin and insertion of the trapezius?: O: Occipitals
I: Lateral clavicle, acromion, spine of scapula
8. What does the trapezius do?: Upper fibers - bilaterally: extend the head and
neck
Upper fibers - unilaterally: laterally flex the head and neck to same side, rotate the
head and neck to the opposite side, elevate the scapula, upwardly rotate the scapula
Middle fibers: adduct the scapula, stabilize the scapula
lower fibers: depress the scapula, upwardly rotate the scapula
9. What is the origin and insertion of the latissimus dorsi?: O: Inferior angle of
scapula, spinous processes of last 6 thoracic vertebrae, last 3 or 4 ribs, thoracolum-
bar aponeurosis and posterior iliac crest
I: intertubercular groove of humerus (superior humerus)
10. What does the latissimus dorsi do?: Extend the shoulder, adduct the shoul-
der, medially rotate the shoulder
1/9
, Pilates Anatomy
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11. What is the origin and insertion of the levator scapulae?: O: C1-C4
I: Medial border of scapula, below superior angle of scapula
12. Where is the origin and insertion of the rhomboid major and minor?: Major
O: spinous processes of T12-T5
Minor O: spinous processes of C7-T1
Major I: inferior medial border of scapula
Minor I: superior medial border of scapula
13. What is the origin and insertion of the serratus anterior?: O: 1st-9th rib
I: anterior surface of medial border of scapula
14. What does the serratus anterior do?: with origin fixed: abduct the scapula,
upwardly rotate the scapula, hold the medial border of the scapula against the rib
cage
with scapula fixed: may act to elevate the thorax during forced inhalation
15. What is the origin and insertion of the external oblique?: O: external sur-
faces of 5th to 12th ribs
I: anterior iliac crest, linea alba
16. What does the external oblique do?: Unilaterally: laterally flex vertebral col-
umn to the same side, rotate vertebral column to the opposite side
Bilaterally: flex the vertebral column, compress the abdominal contents
17. What is the origin and insertion of the internal oblique?: O: iliac crest,
thoracolumbar fascia
I: 9th-12th ribs, linea alba
18. What do the internal obliques do?: Unilaterally: laterally flex vertebral column
to the same side, rotate vertebral column to the same side
Bilaterally: flex the vertebral column, compress abdominal contents
19. What is the origin and insertion of the rectus abdominis?: O: Public crest,
pubic symphysis
I: cartilage of 5th, 6th, and 7th ribs, xiphoid process
20. What do the rectus abdominis do?: flex the vertebral column, tilt pelvis pos-
teriorly
21. What is the origin and insertion of the supraspinatus?: O: posterior superior
surface of scapula
I: tubercle of the humerus
22. What does the supraspinatus do?: Abduct the shoulder, stabilize the head of
the humerous in glenoid cavity
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