Transversospinal muscles

Musculi transversospinales

  • Synonym: Transversospinales muscles
  • Related terms: Transversospinales

Definition

The transversospinal muscles are a group of muscles of the human back. Their combined action is rotation and extension of the vertebral column. They include:

  • semispinalis, spanning 4-6 vertebral segments
    • semispinalis dorsi
    • semispinalis cervicis
    • semispinalis capitis
  • multifidus, spanning 2-4 vertebral segments
  • rotatores, spanning 1-2 vertebral segments
    • rotatores cervicis
    • rotatores thoracis
    • rotatores lumborum

References

This definition incorporates text from a public domain edition of Gray's Anatomy (20th U.S. edition of Gray's Anatomy of the Human Body, published in 1918 – from http://www.bartleby.com/107/).

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