Spinal Muscles

More than 30 Muscles and tendons help to provide spinal balance, stability, and mobility. Usually working in groups, muscles contract and relax in response to nerve impulses that originate in the brain. Nerve impulses travel from the brain through the spinal cord to a specific location in the body via the peripheral nervous system.

There are different types of vertebral muscle; forward flexors, lateral flexors, rotators, and extensors. Muscle is the only type of body tissue with the ability to contract. It becomes shorter and thicker during contraction. Some muscles work in pairs or as antagonists. This means when a muscle contracts the opposing muscle relaxes. Muscles, tendons, and ligaments support the spine, hold it upright and control movement during rest and activity.

Several layers of fibrous connective tissue called Fascia (fay-sha) cover muscles. Fascia extends beyond the muscle to become the tendon that attaches the muscle to bone.

1 Semispinalis Capitus (head rotation/pulls backward)
2 Iliocostalis Cervicis (extends cervical vertebrae)
3 Longissimus Cervicus (extends cervical vertebrae)
4 Longissimus Capitus (head rotation/pulls backward)
5 Longissimus Thoracis (extension/lateral flexion vertebral column, rib rotation)
6 Iliocostalis Thoracis (extension/lateral flexion vertebral column, rib rotation)
7 Semispinalis Thoracis (extends/rotates vertebral column)

This article is an excerpt from a book titled Save Your Aching Back and Neck, A Patient's Guide (Second Edition, May 2002, completely revised).