Longissimus

The longissimus (Latin for '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.

Longissimus
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
TA	A04.3.02.010
FMA	77178
Anatomical terms of muscle

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

This article uses anatomical terminology.

• Spinalis

External links

• Anatomy figure: 01:06-05 at Human Anatomy Online, SUNY Downstate Medical Center - "Intrinsic muscles of the back."
• Cross section image: pembody/body12a—Plastination Laboratory at the Medical University of Vienna
• Dissection at ithaca.edu

References

This 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.