| Vertebral Muscle Types | Location |
| Forward flexors | Anterior |
| Lateral flexors | Lateral |
| Rotators | Lateral |
| Extensors | Posterior |
Contents
| Cervical Muscles | Function | Nerve |
| Sternocleidomastoid | Extends and rotates the head and flexes the vertebral column | C2, C3 |
| Scalenus | Flexes and rotates the neck | Lower cervical |
| Spinalis Cervicis | Extends and rotates the head | Middle/lower cervical |
| Spinalis Capitus | Extends and rotates the head | Middle/lower cervical |
| Semispinalis Cervicis | Extends and rotates the vertebral column | Middle/lower cervical |
| Semispinalis Capitus | Rotates the head and pulls backward | C1-C5 |
| Splenius Cervicis | Extends the vertebral column | Middle/lower cervical |
| Longus Colli Cervicis | Flexes the cervical vertebrae | C2-C7 |
| Longus Capitus | Flexes the head | C1-C3 |
| Rectus Capitus Anterior | Flexes the head | C2, C3 |
| Rectus Capitus Lateralis | Bends the head laterally | C2, C3 |
| Iliocostalis Cervicis | Extends the cervical vertebrae | Middle/lower cervical |
| Longissimus Cervicis | Extends the cervical vertebrae | Middle/lower cervical |
| Longissimus Capitus | Rotates the head and pulls backward | Middle/lower cervical |
| Rectus Capitus Posterior Major | Extends and rotates the head | Suboccipital |
| Rectus Capitus Posterior Minor | Extends the head | Suboccipital |
| Obliquus Capitus Inferior | Rotates the atlas | Suboccipital |
| Obliquus Capitus Superior | Extends and bends the head laterally | Suboccipital |
| Thoracic muscles | Function | Nerve |
| Longissimus Thoracis | Extension, lateral flexion of the vertebral column, and rib rotation | Dorsal primary divisions of the spinal nerves |
| Iliocostalis Thoracis | Extension, lateral flexion of the vertebral column, and rib rotation | Dorsal primary divisions of the spinal nerves |
| Spinalis Thoracis | Extends the vertebral column | Dorsal primary divisions of the spinal nerves |
| Semispinalis Thoracis | Extends and rotates the vertebral column | Dorsal primary divisions of the spinal nerves |
| Rotatores Thoracis | Extends and rotates the vertebral column | Dorsal primary divisions of the spinal nerves |
| Lumbar muscles | Function | Nerve |
| Psoas Major | Flexes the thigh at the hip joint and the vertebral column | L2, L3, sometimes L1 or L4 |
| Intertransversarii Lateralis | Lateral flexion of the vertebral column | The ventral primary division of the spinal nerves |
| Quadratus Lumborum | Lateral flexion of the vertebral column | T12, L1 |
| Interspinales | Extends the vertebral column | Dorsal primary divisions of the spinal nerves |
| Intertransversarii Mediales | Lateral flexion of the vertebral column | Dorsal primary divisions of the spinal nerves |
| Multifidus | Extends and rotates the vertebral column | Dorsal primary divisions of the spinal nerves |
| Longissimus Lumborum | Extends and rotates the vertebral column | Dorsal primary divisions of the spinal nerves |
| Iliocostalis Lumborum | Extension, lateral flexion of the vertebral column, and rib rotation | Dorsal primary divisions of the spinal nerves |
Professional Scope of Practice *
The information herein on "The Spinal Muscles: An Extensive Guide" is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional or licensed physician and is not medical advice. We encourage you to make healthcare decisions based on your research and partnership with a qualified healthcare professional.
Blog Information & Scope Discussions
Our information scope is limited to Chiropractic, musculoskeletal, physical medicines, wellness, contributing etiological viscerosomatic disturbances within clinical presentations, associated somatovisceral reflex clinical dynamics, subluxation complexes, sensitive health issues, and/or functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions.
We provide and present clinical collaboration with specialists from various disciplines. Each specialist is governed by their professional scope of practice and their jurisdiction of licensure. We use functional health & wellness protocols to treat and support care for the injuries or disorders of the musculoskeletal system.
Our videos, posts, topics, subjects, and insights cover clinical matters, issues, and topics that relate to and directly or indirectly support our clinical scope of practice.*
Our office has reasonably attempted to provide supportive citations and has identified the relevant research study or studies supporting our posts. We provide copies of supporting research studies available to regulatory boards and the public upon request.
We understand that we cover matters that require an additional explanation of how it may assist in a particular care plan or treatment protocol; therefore, to further discuss the subject matter above, please feel free to ask Dr. Alex Jimenez, DC, or contact us at 915-850-0900.
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Blessings
Dr. Alex Jimenez DC, MSACP, RN*, CCST, IFMCP*, CIFM*, ATN*
email: coach@elpasofunctionalmedicine.com
Licensed as a Doctor of Chiropractic (DC) in Texas & New Mexico*
Texas DC License # TX5807, New Mexico DC License # NM-DC2182
Licensed as a Registered Nurse (RN*) in Florida
Florida License RN License # RN9617241 (Control No. 3558029)
Compact Status: Multi-State License: Authorized to Practice in 40 States*
Dr. Alex Jimenez DC, MSACP, RN* CIFM*, IFMCP*, ATN*, CCST
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