Longissimus

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Longissimus
Longissimus.png
Deep muscles of the back – longissimus capitis visible at top right, longisimus cervicis visible at center upper right, and longissimus dorsi visible at center right
Details
Origin Transverse process
Insertion Transverse process
Artery Lateral sacral artery
Nerve Posterior branch of spinal nerve
Actions Laterally: Flex the head and neck to the same side. Bilaterally: Extend the vertebral column.
Antagonist Rectus abdominis muscle
Identifiers
Latin musculus longissimus
TA98 A04.3.02.010
TA2 2262
FMA 77178
Anatomical terms of muscle

The longissimus (Latin : the longest one) is the muscle lateral to the semispinalis muscles. It is the longest subdivision of the erector spinae muscles that extends forward into the transverse processes of the posterior cervical vertebrae.

Contents

Structure

Longissimus thoracis et lumborum

The longissimus thoracis et lumborum is the intermediate and largest of the continuations of the erector spinae.

In the lumbar region (longissimus lumborum), where it is as yet blended with the iliocostalis, some of its fibers are attached to the whole length of the posterior surfaces of the transverse processes and the accessory processes of the lumbar vertebrae, and to the anterior layer of the lumbodorsal fascia.

In the thoracic region (longissimus thoracis), it is inserted, by rounded tendons, into the tips of the transverse processes of all the thoracic vertebrae, and by fleshy processes into the lower nine or ten ribs between their tubercles and angles.

Longissimus cervicis

The longissimus cervicis (transversalis cervicis), situated medial to the longissimus thoracis, arises by long, thin tendons from the summits of the transverse processes of thoracic vertebræ 1–5, and is inserted by similar tendons into the posterior tubercles of the transverse processes of cervical vertebrae 2–6. [1]

Longissimus capitis

The longissimus capitis (trachelomastoid muscle) lies medial to the longissimus cervicis, between it and the semispinalis capitis.

It arises by tendons from the transverse processes of the upper four or five thoracic vertebrae, and the articular processes of the lower three or four cervical vertebrae, and is inserted into the posterior margin of the mastoid process, beneath the splenius capitis and sternocleidomastoid.

It is almost always crossed by a tendinous intersection near its insertion.

See also

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The longus colli muscle is a muscle of the human body.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Multifidus muscle</span> Muscle in the back

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Semispinalis muscles</span> Group of three muscles belonging to the transversospinales

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Splenius cervicis muscle</span> Muscle in the back of the neck

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thoracolumbar fascia</span> Anatomical Feature

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Iliocostalis</span>

Iliocostalis muscle is the muscle immediately lateral to the longissimus that is the nearest to the furrow that separates the epaxial muscles from the hypaxial. It lies very deep to the fleshy portion of the serratus posterior muscle. It laterally flexes the vertebral column to the same side.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spinalis</span> Portion of the erector spinae

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Posterior branches of cervical nerves</span>

The posterior branches of cervical nerves branch from the dorsal rami of the cervical nerves.

The lumbar fascia is the lumbar portion of the thoracolumbar fascia. It consists of three fascial layers - posterior, middle, and anterior - that enclose two muscular compartments. The anterior and middle layers occur only in the lumbar region, whereas the posterior layer extends superiorly to the inferior part of the neck, and the inferiorly to the dorsal surface of the sacrum. The quadratus lumborum is contained in the anterior muscular compartment, and the erector spinae in the posterior compartment. Psoas major lies anterior to the anterior layer. Various superficial muscles of the posterior thorax and abdomen arise from the posterior layer - namely the latissimus dorsi, and serratus posterior inferior.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Outline of human anatomy</span> Overview of and topical guide to human anatomy

The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to human anatomy:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vertebra</span> Bone in the vertebral column

Each vertebra is an irregular bone with a complex structure composed of bone and some hyaline cartilage, that make up the vertebral column or spine, of vertebrates. The proportions of the vertebrae differ according to their spinal segment and the particular species.

References

PD-icon.svgThis article incorporates text in the public domain from page 399 of the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)

  1. Stone, Robert J. Stone, Judith A. (2008). Atlas of skeletal muscles (6. ed.). Boston: McFraw-Hill Higher Education. ISBN   978-0071283595.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)