Hypaxial muscles of back

Epaxial and hypaxial muscles of the back are defined as muscles innervated by the dorsal and ventral rami of spinal nerves, respectively. Each cluster of spinal motor neurons passing through dorsal rami innervates epaxial muscles, whereas clusters traveling on the ventral rami innervate hypaxial muscles.

The hypaxial muscles of back are:

• Trapezius muscle

• Transversus nuchae muscle

• Latissimus dorsi muscle

• Rhomboid major muscle

• Rhomboid minor muscle

• Levator scapulae

• Serratus posterior inferior muscle

• Serratus posterior superior muscle

• Anterior intertransversarii colli muscles

• Lateral posterior intertransversarii colli muscles

• Lateral intertransversarii lumborum muscles

The epaxial muscles of back (muscles of back proper) are:

• Suboccipital muscles

• Erector spinae

• Spinotransversales muscles

• Transversospinal muscles

• Interspinales muscles

• Intertransversarii muscles