Transversospinalis muscle

Musculus transverso-spinalis

  • Synonym: Transversospinal muscle

Definition

The transversospinalis muscle is a collective term for the muscles of the back primarly medial to the iliocostalis and longissimus muscles and lateral to the spinalis, interspinalis and intertransversarius groups. It forms a medial epaxial muscle mass composed of a number of different systems of fascicles, extending from spinous process to the transverse process of adjacent vertebrae.

The nomenclature employed by various authors varies considerably. In the Vth NAV, the transversospinal complex includes 3 muscles:

  • The semispinalis
  • The multifidus
  • The rotators

References

Text by Antoine Micheau, MD - Copyright IMAIOS